Google's Gboard, the popular Android keyboard app, is getting a new look on larger screens like tablets and foldable phones. This update focuses in particular on making it easier to find and use emojis, GIFs, and stickers.
Choosing the perfect emoji or GIF has become an important part of how we communicate these days. However, on larger screens, the old Gboard layout wasn't always the easiest to navigate. For example, foldable phones Like the Galaxy Z Fold, GIFs were often crammed into a tiny space, making it hard to see what you were selecting.
Gboard's latest beta update (v14.6.02) brings a brand new design for tablets and foldables. The main change is that emojis, GIFs, and stickers now appear on the right side of the screen, while unique category names are listed on the left. This is similar to how Gboard works on smaller phones, but now there's space for full text descriptions instead of just icons. Plus, the search bar is much larger, making it easier to find exactly what you're looking for.
Gboard version 14.6.02 redesigns GIF and emoji picker on foldables and tablets
This new layout makes better use of the additional space on the screen. foldable phonesYou can now see multiple rows of GIFs at once, making browsing easier. And tablets get an additional bar on the left for quickly switching between emojis, GIFs, stickers, and other options.
This updated Gboard design has been spotted on devices like the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 6. It's currently only available in the Gboard beta, but Google will likely release it to everyone soon.
It's worth noting that this may not be a server-side change from Google. Some users have reported that they were able to see the new layout simply by updating their Gboard app, even on phones that aren't officially supported yet. This suggests that Google is getting ready to roll out the update across the board, and it could arrive sooner than expected for many users.