Why the iOS keyboard feels “smarter”
The default Apple keyboard has advantages that no third-party keyboard is allowed to access. Apple gives their own keyboard:
Limited on-device machine learning based on your writing habits
Contextual data from the text on your screen
Recent typing history for better predictions and corrections
Because of this extra information, the built-in iOS keyboard often feels more accurate, consistent and personalized.
What iOS does not allow third-party keyboards to do
For privacy and security reasons, Apple blocks third-party keyboards (including Willow) from:
Learning from your typing over time
Accessing contextual text on the screen
Having the same personalized autocorrect engine
This means third-party keyboards must use a more basic version of autocorrect that they implement themselves. Willow cannot access the same data that makes Apple’s keyboard feel so accurate. These are Apple’s system restrictions, not a Willow limitation.
Why Willow’s autocorrect feels more basic today
Because we cannot access Apple’s advanced autocorrect engine or your on-screen context, Willow uses:
A simpler autocorrect model
A more generic dictionary
No personalized learning from your past typing
It still works well for most users, but it will not match the precision of Apple’s built-in keyboard yet.
The future of Willow’s keyboard
Improving the experience of our custom voice-first keyboard is one of our top priorities. We are working on:
A more advanced autocorrect engine
Personalized learning done safely and privately
Improvements to make Willow feel closer to the iOS keyboard experience
Our long-term goal is simple: We want Willow’s keyboard to fully replace the Apple keyboard for people who prefer voice-first typing. Better autocorrect is a major part of that.