Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Keys Cafe can make Samsung Keyboard’s physical layout feel much closer to Gboard. You can resize keys, adjust spacing and move symbols into more familiar positions. That solves an ergonomic problem, but it does not turn Samsung Keyboard into Gboard. Glide typing, multilingual prediction, translation, Google Search, voice workflows and editing tools remain separate reasons to choose Google’s keyboard on a Galaxy phone.
What Keys Cafe changes—and what it cannot
Keys Cafe is a module in Samsung’s Good Lock customization suite. Samsung’s 2020 announcement described keyboard-height and keyboard-width resizing and key-layout repositioning, with Samsung Keyboard version 5.1.05 required at the time. Samsung’s current support description also lists key colors, backgrounds, fonts and layouts among the available keyboard customizations.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Galaxy Store listing identifies Keys Cafe as Good Lock Labs software. It lists version 1.9.00.6 dated September 14, 2026, and says it works with Samsung Keyboard version 5.1.05.9 or later. Version numbers and regional or device availability can change, so check the listing and your installed Samsung Keyboard before troubleshooting.
In practical terms, Keys Cafe can address:
- Key height and width, including a more comfortable reach for one-handed typing.
- Spacing and the position of letters, numbers and symbols.
- Colors, backgrounds and fonts.
- Some visual or touch-feedback choices.
That lets you reproduce much of a familiar Gboard geometry. It is a change to Samsung Keyboard’s arrangement and appearance, not a replacement for its prediction engine or input features.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
How to make Samsung Keyboard look more familiar
- Install or open Good Lock on your Galaxy phone, then add the Keys Cafe module from the Galaxy Store if it is available for your device and region.
- Update Samsung Keyboard before configuring the module. The current listing specifies version 5.1.05.9 or later; older releases may not expose every option.
- Open Keys Cafe and choose the keyboard-customization area. Start with the layout editor rather than changing colors, so you can verify the physical arrangement first.
- Resize the keyboard to match your preferred height and width. A taller keyboard can improve target size, while a narrower layout may reduce thumb travel.
- Reposition symbols and punctuation to the places your muscle memory expects. Save the layout, then switch to Samsung Keyboard in a text field to confirm that the changes are active.
- Back up or record the layout settings before a major One UI, Good Lock or Samsung Keyboard update. Module compatibility can change when any of those components updates.
If the editor is missing or changes do not appear, check that Samsung Keyboard is the active input method, update both apps, restart the phone and verify that the installed versions meet the listing’s requirement. Availability can also differ by Galaxy model and country.
Why Gboard can still feel better after the layout fix
Physical geometry is only one part of typing. Google’s Gboard documentation lists slide (glide) typing, voice typing, translation while typing, handwriting, clipboard tools, multilingual typing and writing tools. Keys Cafe does not add those capabilities to Samsung Keyboard.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Glide typing and prediction
Gboard’s Android launch description emphasizes Glide Typing, voice typing, speed and accuracy, with Google Search built in. If you prefer dragging a finger across letters or rely on next-word suggestions, a Samsung layout that looks right may still produce a different workflow and different suggestions.
Multiple languages
Gboard can autocorrect and suggest from enabled languages in the same conversation without requiring a manual keyboard switch. That is particularly useful when messages regularly mix languages. Results depend on the languages enabled and on the device’s software, so compare the combinations you actually use rather than assuming every language behaves identically.
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Translation inside the keyboard
Gboard provides an in-keyboard translation action: select the source and destination languages, type, and insert the translated text without leaving the conversation. A custom Samsung layout changes where keys are, but it does not reproduce that translation workflow.
Voice input and editing
Basic voice typing support and advanced voice features are not the same thing. Google says advanced voice typing requires a Pixel 6 or later, including Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, and that language support and processing vary by feature. Detailed voice edits send the voice-command transcript and input text to Google’s servers. Do not assume that a Galaxy phone offers the same advanced commands or processing behavior as a supported Pixel.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Search, clipboard and writing tools
Gboard’s built-in Google Search, clipboard access and writing tools can matter more than key placement when you compose messages, look up information or edit long text. Those are software-workflow choices, not visual settings that Keys Cafe can copy.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Samsung Keyboard or Gboard on a Galaxy phone?
| Decision factor | Samsung Keyboard with Keys Cafe | Gboard |
|---|---|---|
| Layout and reach | Resizable keyboard, repositioned keys, custom colors, backgrounds and fonts. | Uses Gboard’s own layout controls; the Samsung-specific Keys Cafe editor does not apply. |
| Typing engine | Samsung Keyboard prediction and autocorrection. | Glide typing, prediction and autocorrection built around Gboard. |
| Languages | Depends on Samsung Keyboard’s language support and switching behavior. | Multilingual suggestions can work across enabled languages in one conversation. |
| Translation | Keys Cafe does not add an in-keyboard translation workflow. | Translation can be started from the keyboard while typing. |
| Voice and editing | Feature availability depends on Samsung Keyboard and Galaxy software. | Voice typing and writing tools are available, with advanced voice features subject to Google’s device and language requirements. |
| Galaxy customization | Deep One UI styling through Good Lock and Keys Cafe. | Google-focused tools and services inside the keyboard. |
| Maintenance | Requires Good Lock, Keys Cafe and compatible Samsung Keyboard versions; updates may require checking saved layouts. | Maintained as a Google keyboard app, without the Keys Cafe module dependency. |
A practical choice framework
- Choose Samsung Keyboard plus Keys Cafe if key size, symbol position, One UI styling or one-handed reach is your main frustration.
- Choose Gboard if glide typing, mixed-language suggestions, translation, Google Search, clipboard tools or writing assistance saves you more time than a customized layout.
- Keep both installed if you want a Samsung-specific layout for some tasks and Gboard’s workflow for others. Android lets you switch keyboards from the keyboard toolbar or input-method control, although frequent switching adds its own friction.
There is no authoritative head-to-head speed or accuracy statistic establishing one as universally better. The meaningful test is your own languages, typing style, voice use and tolerance for maintaining a customized Samsung setup.
Best Value
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
The Bottom Line
Keys Cafe solves Samsung Keyboard’s layout problem impressively, but it does not solve a Gboard preference rooted in typing behavior or integrated tools. Pick Samsung Keyboard when physical customization and One UI integration matter most; pick Gboard when its glide, language, translation, voice and editing workflow is the reason you type faster or with less effort.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
