Gboard could soon get a useful feature that you probably assumed it already had

Google seems to be working on support for Bluetooth microphones in Gboard
This will allow you to use microphones in earphones or headphones for voice typing
Right now you have to use the phone’s microphone, which isn’t always ideal

Gboard is a suitable keyboard whether you’re typing by hand or using your voice, but the latter mode could soon get significantly better, as it looks like Google is working on a feature that will let you use the microphone in your Bluetooth earphones or headphones.

Currently, voice typing with Gboard is completely dependent on the phone’s microphone – even if you have earphones or headphones connected.

It’s not ideal. This means bringing your phone close to your face or speaking loudly if you’re in a noisy environment, and you might not have even realized the restriction was in place, leading to poor voice typing results when wearing headphones.

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A new contact

(Image credit: Google / Android Authority)

Fortunately, the days of this limitation could be numbered as Android Authority has found evidence that Google is working on support for Bluetooth devices. The feature was found in a beta version of the Gboard app, which you can see in the screenshot above. The site claims to have been able to activate it and that it worked as expected.

That said, since the feature is still being tested internally at Google, there’s no guarantee that it will actually roll out in a finished Gboard build. But we don’t see why it wouldn’t, as it’s a useful upgrade and based on Android Authority’s findings, it sounds like it’s working.

Given that the feature appears to be almost finished, there’s a good chance it will launch soon, if at all. We sure hope so, as this is one of those things that feels like it should have been offered for years.

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