SwiftKey for Android updated with faster performance and new languages

Just weeks after receiving a Material Design makeover for Android Lollipop, the popular custom keyboard SwiftKey for Android has been updated with performance improvements and support for twelve new languages. The latest version of SwiftKey for Android is available now through the Play Store as a free update.

SwiftKey for Android now supports 81 languages worldwide, gaining localization for Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Nepali, and Sinhala in this latest update. The additional languages will provide SwiftKey users in India with a more accurate and localized experience.

“I come from a Bengali community and every day I have to communicate with people who are Bengali or Indian, as well as those who are neither,” said Ranadeep Bswas, from Chennai in India. “That’s why I use Bengali and Hindi as well as English – I can’t restrict my keyboard to one or even two languages. I really like the way SwiftKey learns from the non-English words that I have used and has helped me build my very own hybrid language from scratch. It’s incredibly satisfying to see.”

The specific performance enhancements included in the update are as follows:

• Keyboard appears 15-20% more quickly: For most users, the time it takes for the keyboard to appear has been reduced. We investigated and worked on performance in multiple instances when the keyboard appears; for example, the first time after installation (cold load) and subsequent loads (cached loads), among others.
• Keyboard leaves the screen 20-30% more quickly than the previous version: We’ve also reduced the time it takes for the keyboard to disappear within apps (e.g. after an SMS is sent) and when exiting apps (e.g. when switching apps or returning to home screen).
• Switching between fields is 15-50% faster: After sending a message, the keyboard now refreshes more quickly.
• Typing is 10-18% more responsive: Users should have a smoother experience when tapping keys in quick succession. However, in certain circumstances the keyboard may still feel ‘sticky’. We will continue to work hard to improve it further in future versions.

The new SwiftKey for Android is free on the Play Store and also includes multiple bug fixes.