The Google Pixel 11 series is the first offering to make me rethink using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as my Android daily driver. It’s all because of Rambler, a Gboard feature that finally makes voice typing worth using.
Rambler is a voice-to-text tool designed to decipher and transcribe your rambles, as the name suggests. You can use filler words, make formatting requests, interject with an edit, or use multiple languages — Rambler understands it all. Before switching to Rambler, I spent as much time editing texts created with voice typing as I saved by speaking in the first place.
I always swap Samsung Keyboard for Gboard
But I can’t bring every Pixel feature to my Galaxy
One of the first moves I make after setting up a new Galaxy phone is swapping the default Samsung Keyboard for Gboard. Samsung Keyboard has some neat features and uses on-device models, but its accuracy, predictive text, and autocorrect suggestions all lag behind the competition. After using Rambler with Gboard on the Pixel 11 series, I thought the dictation tool would be available on my Galaxy Z Fold 8 after replacing Samsung Keyboard. Not so fast.
Rambler is an AI feature included as part of the Gemini Intelligence suite. This is a new name for Google AI features that require advanced hardware to run, and right now, certain Samsung and Google phones support it. The Pixel 11 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 are both on that list, but only one of them supports Rambler.
It’s not a Pixel-exclusive, per se, because the upcoming Motorola Signature 27 will also support Rambler. Regardless, Galaxy users are left out of the fun, even if their phone works with Gemini Intelligence.
This made the switch from the Pixel 11 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold to my Galaxy Z Fold 8 quite difficult, because Rambler isn’t like other voice-to-text tools. Frankly, I didn’t use voice typing much on other phones due to the accuracy issues. If you messed up a single word or phrase, you would’ve been out of luck. Old-school voice typing couldn’t handle automatic formatting or language switching, either.
Rambler is different, and once I got used to it, it was hard to go back. Using the new lineup of Googlebook laptops didn’t help, because they too support Rambler for voice typing.
Rambler finally makes voice-to-text useful
It’s accurate enough to make me stop typing on my Pixel
Rambler is built to weed out filler words in your speech. This is the feature’s most valuable trick, as many of us don’t realize how many filler words we use until they show up in our transcriptions. A pause to collect your thoughts or an “um” to fill the dead air doesn’t ruin your voice-to-text transcription. Rambler removes them before they even appear in a text field.
The other perk is Rambler’s ability to insert punctuation marks precisely where they’re needed. I got used to using a robotic, monotone voice while using a voice typing tool, manually pointing out where a comma or period should be placed. That isn’t necessary with Rambler. In fact, Ramber can go one step further and format text, adjusting the style and color based on your voice commands.
The feature really starts to feel like magic when you ask it to rewrite or revise a part of your speech in real time. Somehow, it understands commands mixed in with regular speech, making the edits you request while omitting the verbal instructions from the final transcript. If I use the wrong word in a sentence, I can say something like, “Wait, I didn’t mean apples, I meant oranges.” Rambler will swap the words out, no problem.
Rambler isn’t perfect, and its reliance on cloud processing might be off-putting for some users. The feature requires your text and audio input to be “temporarily processed by Google,” and there are usage limits — even if most users will never run into them. There is an offline mode that’s more limited, but retains basic text cleanup and automatic punctuation and capitalization.
I also enjoyed seeing the old voice typing tool show your transcriptions in real time, which Rambler doesn’t do. Luckily, if you have any qualms about using Rambler, you have the option of sticking with standard voice typing.
This trick brings Rambler to your Galaxy
Rambler isn’t officially supported, even on the latest phones
I choose Galaxy phones for their hardware, but I’m occasionally jealous of exclusive features available only on Pixel and Motorola phones. Rambler is one of those features that stands out, and I hope it comes to Galaxy phones eventually. Considering that Galaxy phones ship with Samsung Keyboard and Galaxy AI-powered writing tools by default, getting Rambler in One UI might be a pipe dream.
For those that use voice typing religiously and want Rambler on their Galaxy phone, there’s an app called PixelBoard. It’s an APK you can sideload to bring the Gboard experience on Pixel phones to your Galaxy. That includes Rambler, which I’ve been unofficially using on my Galaxy Z Fold 8 with PixelBoard.
Still, Rambler is one of those features that might push you to pick a Pixel over a Galaxy from the start.
- SoC
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Google Tensor G6
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua display
- RAM
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12GB
- Storage
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256 or 512GB
- Battery
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4985 mAh
- Brand
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Google
The starter Google Pixel 11 isn’t the flashiest Android phone of the bunch, but it’s the one that resonated with me the most. The slimmer camera bar makes the Pixel 11 feel modern and sleek, and it’s powered by the same Tensor G6 processor as the rest of the series. For $900, this is a solid Android flagship.
