iOS 16 Includes Revamped Dictation System With Cleaner Interface, Smarter Punctuation, and Emojis - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 16 Includes Revamped Dictation System With Cleaner Interface, Smarter Punctuation, and Emojis

by

iOS 16 includes a revamped Dictation system that features a cleaner interface that makes it easier to switch between voice and typing, as well as automatic punctuation and support for emoji insertion.

ios 16 Dictation
The new Dictation experience, powered entirely by on-device intelligence, aims to make it easier for users to switch between voice input and typing.

Unlike on previous versions of iOS, the Dictation panel no longer replaces the iOS keyboard. With iOS 16, the keyboard remains open and visible, letting users type if needed during dictation.

Dictation will now also automatically add punctuation to your text and has support for adding emojis by simply saying phrases like "mind blown emoji." Automatic punctuation and the improvements to Dictation in iOS 16 are also coming to Siri.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple's Next Era Begins September 1

Thursday May 7, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple recently announced that Tim Cook will be stepping down as CEO later this year, after 15 years of leading the company. Effective September 1, Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus will become the company's next CEO, while Cook will become executive chairman of Apple's board of directors. In his new role, Apple said Cook will assist with "certain aspects" of the company,...
Read Full Article
Instagram Feature 2

PSA: Instagram Encrypted Messaging Ends on Friday, May 8

Tuesday May 5, 2026 8:24 am PDT by
Instagram will remove end-to-end encryption for direct messages between users from May 8, 2026. When the date comes around, Meta will potentially be able to see the contents of all messages between users on the social media platform. Encrypting messages has been an optional feature in Instagram since 2023, but in March of this year the social media platform quietly updated a help page to say ...
Read Full Article • 54 comments
Apple Event Logo

Apple Just Released a New Accessory

Monday May 4, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today released a new Pride Edition Sport Loop for the Apple Watch. The band features a rainbow design with 11 colors of woven nylon yarns. The new Pride Edition Sport Loop is available to order now on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm sizes, and it will be available at Apple Store locations starting later this week. In the U.S., the band costs $49. There...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

G
GhostOS
51 months ago
Never mind dictation, I just wish they improved iOS's autocorrect. It used to be great but has been so awful.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
t0mbola
51 months ago
Does it have automatic language switching? That would be awesome for bilinguals.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DanteHicks79 Avatar
DanteHicks79
51 months ago
Waiting on the day when I see an Influenster in the wild shouting at their phone "Crossed finger emoji, tongue sticking out with one eye winky emoji, champagne emoji, party favors emoji, red 100 emoji, cry laughing emoji!"
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
CarAnalogy
51 months ago

it has noticeably improved in ios 16
God I hope so, at this point they would have to try really hard to make it worse.

And third party keyboard support seems to have come and gone. Real Gboard is the one thing I still miss from Android daily. Gboard for iOS is very rarely updated and does not work well. No third party keyboard seems to be anywhere near as responsive as the built-in.

I’ve turned autocorrect off because it mangles what I’m trying to type every single time, with the most irrelevant and bizarre auto corrections, with no way to teach it.

I remember listening to an Android podcast years ago just before they re-launched the Android keyboard as Gboard, and their lead keyboard scientist was talking about all kinds of fascinating and useful research they’ve done, and it really shows.

Apple is a decade behind on this somehow. I guess all the scientists they hired were for working on the car and they have apparently all moved on now too.

Apple needs to refocus on basics. Ironic to say refocus since they seem to be obsessed with Focus Modes more than anything.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
S
svish
51 months ago
Looks like it has improved much. Will definitely try this out later this year.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
christian.terra
51 months ago

Never mind dictation, I just wish they improved iOS's autocorrect. It used to be great but has been so awful.
it has noticeably improved in ios 16
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments