Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Google brings Gboard voice typing toolbar beta to Pixel

By Cristina Alexander Published February 10, 2025

Google Pixel 5 owner using Gboard. — Gboard on the Google Pixel 5 Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Gboard Assistant Voice Typing toolbar is rolling out to Google Pixel phones in the latest beta test. According to a report from Android Authority, Google is testing out the new voice typing UI in version 15.0 of the Gboard app within its phones after the company implemented it to the Pixel Tablet last year.

Recommended Videos

The Assistant Voice Typing toolbar shows up as a new bar above the keyboard, complete with a microphone, a backspace key, and buttons to open the keyboard, minimize it, return to the previous toolbar page, change the language, and more. Tapping the microphone on the far right side of the toolbar triggers Assistant Voice Typing, and the “Speak Now” prompt will pop up in the blank space of the toolbar awaiting your voice commands. Pressing the microphone button stops voice typing and the “Paused” prompt appears.

The neat thing about the new Assistant Voice Typing toolbar is you can either leave it at the bottom of your phone screen like normal, or you can drag up to the right side of your screen if you need to extra space for your other tasks. When you stop talking while voice typing is active, you receive a few buttons as actions and voice typing remains active until you open up the keyboard again.

The Assistant Voice Typing toolbar is only available for beta testers who own a Google Pixel phone and already have the Gboard app download into it. It’s unknown when it will be fully available to all Pixel users as well as other Android phones and iPhones.

Cristina Alexander

Gaming/Mobile Writer

Cristina Alexander is a gaming and mobile writer at Digital Trends. She blends fair coverage of games industry topics that…

Topics

Mobile

We just got our best look yet at the Google Pixel Watch 4

Active watch face in Rosebush color scheme on Pixel Watch 3.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is the next entry in Google's celebrated wearable lineup, and we just got a great look at a set of new leaks. The images come courtesy of Steve Hemmerstoffer, better known as OnLeaks, as well as 91mobiles. In addition to 5K renders, we also have a 360-degree video that lets us examine the phone from multiple angles.

Right off the bat, you'll notice the Pixel Watch 4 hasn't shifted away from the circular design of the Pixel Watch 3 in any major way, but it does look to have smaller bezels. That's not surprising, given the ongoing push across the entire industry for smaller bezels on every display.

Trash

Google’s Gboard could soon gain an AI-powered meme generator

Google meme creator is in development.

Memes have become incredibly popular, and Google is developing an AI-powered meme generator to make creating memes easier through Gboard. However, this upcoming tool, referred to as "Meme Studio" internally, has faced criticism from Android Authority, which was the first to report on it.

According to the report, the new feature offers users two options for creating memes: "custom" and "generate." The "custom" option allows users to choose a base image from thousands available and add their own captions. Google appears to be automating the process of finding and labeling these base images.

Mobile

The Google Pixel 9a is the super slimline phone we’ve been waiting for

The back of the Google Pixel 9a.

I’ve never let a camera bump bother me. They’re a fact of modern smartphone life, as brands shove bigger and better cameras into a small space which is also occupied by processors, batteries, and all kinds of other tech. But going forward, things will never be the same as I’ve been using the Google Pixel 9a for a few days, and I can tell you, the slimline life is so good.
Is it really that different?

The Google Pixel 9a doesn’t have the now-iconic Pixel visor or island containing the cameras. Instead, it doesn’t have anything as its two cameras live inside a stadium-shaped glass unit that sits almost flush with the surface of the rear panel. It’s raised by a millimeter or so, which you only notice when you run your finger across it. A flash unit sits alongside it, and it’s entirely built into the back of the Pixel 9a.