Hmm. That is strange. I don’t think of Apple as doing much artificial gating. This may be that (and I’m not opposed to charging for software), but it is notable that the Apple Watch keyboard does a lot of prediction. It works surprisingly well and clearly does a lot of guessing and prompting to deal with the fact that a finger is like 4 keys large. I don’t know much about the SE, but I wonder if they found the experience or be worse there. (If they’re going to give dictation it wouldn’t make a ton of sense not to give a keyboard if it were an option I’d think.)

Question: what language do you speak that dictation works poorly in? Just curious. I only recently tried it (dictation) and I was blown away by how well it works in English.

I don’t work for Apple, so can’t say if it’s just Apple gatekeeping features for higher-end watches or there is really a technical reason. However, I think you overthink too much about the keyboard feature. I’m using an S7 and I would only use the keyboard to do really short replies and will take out my phone for anything longer than a few words.

40mm SE is too small, and Apple didn’t want to give it to 44mm so they decided to make it exclusive to S7 and up. Unfortuantely Apple sometimes does stuff like that and gives you no freedom to choose whether you want to enable it or not. It should be an option in settings with a warning available for all models.

I agree with you, I was also disappointed. That’s Apple for you, have to pay an extra 400 bucks for a fucking keyboard.

OP is getting ⬇️⬇️⬇️

u may want to return to samsung

Because it’s a SE

Ultra 2; keyboard is too small for my dainty fingers on the biggest watch. Voice text is far more accurate. You’re not missing anything on that feature one bit. There are totally reasons to get newer ones, but this is dumb.

Bro you bought the lowest end and cheapest watch that apple offers and you’re complaining that it doesn’t have the features of Apple’s highest end watches? nah…

Sounds like you have a reason for more, if you want the on-screen keyboard.

That’s why you get the s7 my dude.

Okay so the real reason is, according to Apple, the Series 7 which introduced the keyboard has more space for the keyboard.

If you ask me, the actual reason is there are not enough features to differentiate the S7 from the S6, so Apple kept that feature exclusive intentionally. The AW starting from S5 through S9 has been mostly the same. You get some new sensors in newer models, some slicker bezels starting from the series 7, but not enough features from my point of view. I am still okay with a series 6.

On screen keyboard really isn’t as hype as your thinking it is, have the Ultra and I still find that trying to type on it to be a pain unless I’m sitting still and focus which at that point I’m just gonna pull out my phone.

have you tried any of the predicted responses underneath the text message? I upgraded to an Ultra and never use the keyboard. if it takes more than tapping a quick reply to email or text, I reply on the phone. even with a big flat screen and keyboard it’s less efficient to reply in detail on the watch unless you’re dictating, which you said you don’t do.

I cannot fathom the idea of actually using an on screen keyboard on a watch. If I’m going to type something, I will pull out my phone. I have an SE1 and the dictation works just fine. Also the predicted responses work just fine as well as the emojis. I did not know any watch had an on screen keyboard, and for the life of me, could not imagine myself ever using it. I am sorry that you have such an emotional response to this seemingly completely useless feature not being included. I hope that you can find a way to be happy with a phone and watch combination in the future.