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

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Friday July 17, 2026 10:39 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
Read Full Article • 58 comments
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Feature

'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:30 am PDT by
Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during...
Read Full Article • 199 comments
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 12 New Features

Tuesday July 21, 2026 6:22 am PDT by
It is now mid-July, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are now just two months away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, ...
Read Full Article

Top Rated Comments

G
GhostOS
54 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
54 months ago
Does it have automatic language switching? That would be awesome for bilinguals.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DanteHicks79 Avatar
DanteHicks79
54 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
54 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
54 months ago
Looks like it has improved much. Will definitely try this out later this year.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
christian.terra
54 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