Apple did not talk about it, but among the settings of the iOS 16 keyboard, the settings of the virtual keyboard allocations were expanded: in addition to QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY, the Dvorak keyboard also appeared. This was previously only possible on iOS with external software or connecting a physical keyboard. Dvorak is currently not supported with the European keyboard, but it can be used in English, word suggestions and typing by sliding the finger works the same as with other layouts. Accented characters can also be brought up by holding the finger on a vowel, so if we set the keyboard to English and turned off smart corrections, we can also use it in European.
This is what the Dvorak keyboard looks like in the iOS browser. (source: Mobilearena) [+]
The advantages of Dvorak include that it enables faster typing, makes fewer mistakes by knowing the layout, and reduces the risk of injury. It can be a long process to learn, and it is only useful where you use more than two fingers to enter text, which is not common on the phone, since most users tap with the end of their thumb.
Left: Dvorak layout on a physical keyboard. Right: Dvorak allocation under iOS 16. (source: Lexiq.hu / Mobiláréna) [+]
That’s why Dvorak looks a bit strange on iOS, because it doesn’t fill the available space. Where the period, comma and other punctuation marks would be on a physical keyboard, the iPhone system leaves an empty space in the upper left corner, and the symbols remain behind a separate key. Typing is also a bit strange, because you can easily go through the QWERTY layout with two fingers, and if you were to type with one hand, there is an option to push the iOS keyboard to the right or left side of the display. There is also dictation, which is surprisingly accurate even in European.
(source: Mobilearena) [+]
An interesting thing about Dvorak is that Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, is a big fan of the layout, he allegedly learned to use it during a five-hour flight and has been typing with it instead of QWERTY ever since. Mac computers have supported Dvorak in software since the beginning, and the 1984 Apple IIc even had a separate physical switch that could be used to jump between QWERTY and Dvorak. Under iOS 16, the Settings – General – Keyboard – Keyboards can be changed depending on the language under the menu item. Based on our test, European is not supported, but English is.
