First reported by 9to5Google, Gboard beta version 12.3 for Android introduces a new layout for the keyboard app on tablets. The keyboard is now taller and no longer looks like a stretched-out phone keyboard. In portrait mode, the keys get vertical rectangular boxes rather than squares. This makes the touch targets slightly smaller but it’s tablets we are talking about. So that shouldn’t be a problem. Google is making the keys narrower because it has added an extra key to the left of the first two rows: Tab and Caps Lock. The Enter or Search key on the right end of the second row is now a more prominent pill instead of a rounded rectangle. On the third row, Google has made the left Shift key wider and replaced the Exclamation and Question keys with Comma and Period, which were previously on the fourth row. In their places, Google has added Left/Right arrow keys. The fourth row also sees the Emoji key move to the left of the Space bar, while at the extreme right end of it is a new dedicated button to hide the keyboard. The suggestions strip on top of the keyboard now appears properly aligned. It also adds a shortcut button, now showing six of them. This is in addition to the buttons for hiding suggestions, more options (three horizontal dots), and activating the microphone. In landscape mode, a taller layout for Gboard makes keys squarish than horizontal rectangles, giving the keyboard a neat look with big tough targets.
Gboard finally gets optimized UI and layout on tablets
For years, Google cared less about tablets and wearables, focusing more on Android for smartphones. It finally started treating all products equally last year, with the launch of Android 12L for tablets and Wear OS 3 for smartwatches. At Google I/O in May this year, the company committed to further improve the Android experience with optimized apps that take better advantage of the large screens. It has already updated several first-party apps with tablet-specific optimizations, including Clock, Lens, Calculator, Workspace tools, Play Store, and more. Gboard is the latest to join the party. If you use an Android tablet, the latest beta update for Gboard should bring the new layout. If you are not enrolled in the beta program, you can click here to join. And if you don’t want to join the beta program, wait for the official update on the Google Play Store.
