As a devoted user of Samsung Galaxy, I tried for years to stay with the default keyboard on my main Samsung device.
I will occasionally restore the Samsung keyboard to see if my opinion changes. This is not the case. My experience remains mixed.
Gboard is a popular alternative. This is the one I turned the most when I need a break with others.
But I need to break with Google. I too often count on Google products, and as a user concerned with confidentiality, it is not healthy for me.
Until last year, I found an open source keyboard that works quite well. I tried it after reading Examination of Android Authority of a gotes source alternative.
Helicoon is an option concerned with confidentiality based on AOSP / Openboard.
Although Heliboard is not perfect, he did a stellar work to open his eyes to less traditional choices.
Here is what I liked and hated about this open source keyboard application focused on confidentiality.
What I like in Heliboard
In addition to being great for privacy
I worked harder to minimize the number of applications that use my device’s authorizations. I often selected authorization boxes without thinking twice.
But I want it to stop. I aim to improve my awareness of the authorizations that I attribute to each application. So this year I made my goal.
It is halfway in 2025, and I work harder to limit the available authorizations.
The biggest draw was the offline use of Helionoard. You don’t need to allow Internet authorizations to use Helionoard.
Beyond His concentration on confidentialityI like Helionoard’s arrangement. I appreciate that I can resize the keys, and I am comfortable using it both in portrait and landscape modes.
I use the two modes according to the application I use. For longer messages, I prefer the landscape, but to fill empty fields, I stick to a portrait keyboard.
Another painful spot with keyboards is Automatic and predictive text. Whenever I came back to the Samsung keyboard, I remembered why I never wanted to stick to it.
I write a lot of technical words or play jargon, which confuses my Samsung keyboard. I am also lazy to add each new word to my personal dictionary.
In addition, my experience with the Samsung keyboard (not so much with Gbord) is that the function of suggested words to add new words does not always appear when I retypt these words.
I also experienced changing words of automatic correction of Samsung Keyboard which have been poorly spelled before (or recognizing words that were emoticon shortcuts but using them to correct other words). I had to redirect it manually.
This is another reason why I could not integrate with the grammar keyboard.
The suggestions for writing the grammar keyboard would drive me crazy. In addition, according to what I do, I would not want to train my writing too much (especially not when I discuss between my social groups).
This is where I love Helionoard. This allows me to personalize my keyboard according to my needs.
First, Helionoard’s predictive / automatic correction text still needs work. It’s not perfect. But at the very least, it is always a cut above what I get from the Samsung keyboard.
Second, when I practice in another language (which for me would be French), the strike experience while tilting between languages is fluid, even when I select Canadian French as a sustained language.
The only problem is that the multilingual typing supported (languages with dictionaries) is limited, and you must configure this for each selected layout.
It worked well for me because I only needed to add French and English, but for others, it may not be the case.
To which I had to get used to Helionoard
Accessories to all Helionoard customization options
I am definitely in the boat that it is best to have more personalization options than nothing at all. Everyone uses their keyboard differently.
For keyboards, I am a little minimalist. In fact, I find that Gboard’s features are too swollen (I am a non-crushing in the Emoji kitchen).
On the other hand, I am also someone who is used to downloading a keyboard application, and everything is mainly implemented from “Out of the Box”.
Helionoard is different. You are encouraged to personalize your options when downloading the application.
For me, it took a while to get used to it. I can design my keyboard as I want. I like to bring out my keys.
Sometimes my design choice is a little too big for the tastes of others. I love to reproduce the keys of something similar to a real keyboard, giving them a more daring look with additional shade.
Another option I got used to it was the shortcuts of the toolbar.
For example, when I don’t want to use all the shortcuts in the toolbar. I can switch them to and apart from the way I want.
By reducing the number of toolbar shortcuts, I see less displayed on my keyboard, which makes it much cleaner and less overwhelming to use.
You can also reorganize them by dragging them up when you Select the Toolbar Key screen.
What I don’t like in Helionoard
The experience is not impeccable
Although Gbord remains popular among the masses, I still like the options.
I always have a strong dependence on the Play Store. Otherwise, I use the Galaxy Store.
The installation of Helionoard is not as simple as entering the application from a popular application shop. Instead, you must download the GitHub Apk Or use F-Droid to get it.
I have opted in F-Droid since I already used it. It is also easier to keep it up to date.
Another concern is the rate of update. Updates are not published in a coherent manner.
In addition, depending on how you get Heliboard, updates may not be automatic (you will need to configure F-Droid to update applications automatically).
The other major problem is that the application can be buggy.
An inconsistent update calendar would also mean that bugs could take longer to approach compared to popular options, such as Gboard and Microsoft Swiftkey.
However, if you encounter problems with Helionoard, it is recommended to you Open a problem on the GitHub page To help the developer solve the problem.
Continue to try more keyboard options
It is not because a keyboard option has worked for me that it will work well for you.
I was obstinate to try to like the Samsung keyboard, even if you can still make changes using the Good Lock application (Keys Cafe).
On the other hand, I always liked Goard. Google’s keyboard application remains stable and reliable. He has depth.
But this year, I am trying to keep an open mind and not immediately to reatach myself in Google.
Microsoft Swiftkey is also a decent choice. But according to my experience, the predictive text did not work well – and the user interface never clicked with me.
Overall, keyboards remain a very subjective experience. You could fall in love with an option completely different from the one I mentioned.
Just make sure to give each application at least two weeks to adapt.
