Apple Watch 7 — the one feature Apple should steal from Galaxy Watch 4

Apple Scout vii — the ane feature Apple should steal from Galaxy Watch 4

(Paradigm credit: Jon Prosser & Ian Zelbo)

If Apple tree Lookout 7 wants to blow away the Samsung Milky way Sentry 4 when it debuts in a few weeks, it doesn't demand to think that large. In fact, it should steal a rather modest feature from its Wear Bone rival — a T9 keyboard.

While the Apple Watch is due for a slew of messaging upgrades thanks to watchOS eight, users still don't have the option to type their texts without help from one of the best Apple Lookout apps from third-political party developers. Now, it's unlikely an Apple Watch keyboard would come alongside a hardware announcement. But subsequently using the one on the Milky way Picket four, I'chiliad jealous.

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Amidst all the best Samsung Galaxy Lookout man four Wear OS features, the T9 keyboard is one I use everyday. The Samsung Milky way Watch three had a T9 keyboard, as well, and again I relied on it for texting more often than I thought I would. I know, typing on such a small screen sounds ridiculous, merely I appreciated the ability to send messages in cases when I couldn't utilize talk to text or didn't desire to draw my messages.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Wear OS — (Image credit: Future)

If you lot ask me, the keyboard gives Google's software a leg upwards in the ongoing Habiliment OS vs. watchOS boxing. When you send messages on Clothing OS, yous have the selection to type them out and run into recommended autocomplete words forth the manner. All y'all have to practice is click on a number, and the corresponding letters appear in a pop-upward for you to choose from.

You might know how to send a text bulletin on your Apple tree Scout, but what if yous could type out your message with a couple taps? The workaround exists, and then why couldn't Apple tree launch a native version?

Right now, the only practical manner to compose messages on the Apple Scout without the help of a non-Apple app is by using the talk-to-text feature. I find it ordinarily transcribes my dictation accurately, fifty-fifty over a slew of ambience sounds, just there should be a more discreet and efficient ways to communicate with others from your wrist.

On the Milky way Picket 4, I blazon out messages more than than I dictate them. Over the last year and a half of working from habitation, I've grown sick of talking to myself. Certain, I still talk to my canis familiaris like he's a colleague, but it feels less awkward to write out my texts when no i's vox is speaking back to me.

I'm not optimistic I'll be able to do this on my Apple Watch without a 3rd-political party app anytime soon. Over again, with the watchOS viii messages overhaul, it seems the next twelvemonth of Apple tree Scout features is mapped out. Instead, the Apple Watch 7 will probably come with some exclusive tools such as a new health sensor or a special Apple Lookout 7 display setting. Rumors signal to an imminent Apple Watch seven redesign, likewise.

In other words, don't await for the Apple Sentinel 7 for the possibility of a keyboard. Information technology'll remain Samsung'south advantage in the predictable Apple Watch vii vs. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 confront-off. For now, I'll promise nosotros'll finally see an Apple Lookout keyboard in watchOS 9.

More: How to utilise the Apple tree Watch

Kate Kozuch is a senior author at Tom'southward Guide roofing wearables, TVs and everything smart-home related. When she'due south not in cyborg fashion, you tin can find her on an practise bike or channeling her inner celebrity chef. She and her robot army will dominion the world ane day, but until and so, reach her at kate.kozuch@futurenet.com.