An Android keyboard can handle the text you enter because that is how it sends input to the field you are using. That does not, by itself, prove that a particular keyboard records or uploads everything you type. Before installing one, check the app’s identity, Google Play disclosures, privacy policy, and controls for optional features such as voice typing, search, cloud sync, and personalization.
What enabling an Android keyboard means
An Android keyboard is an input method editor (IME), an app with a special service that provides text entry. You choose an installed IME in system settings, and the selected keyboard can be used across the system. Android Developers notes that “Only one IME can be enabled at a time.” The selected keyboard handles input and delivers it to the currently focused field, which makes its role sensitive even when its ordinary permission list looks limited. Android’s guide to creating an input method explains this platform architecture.
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That access is not the same as proof that the keyboard sends every keystroke to its developer. The behavior of a particular product depends on its design, disclosures, settings, and enabled features. Android’s ordinary permission list does not describe every aspect of how an IME handles text.
What Android’s keyboard warning does—and does not—tell you
When you enable a third-party keyboard, Android may warn that it could collect text you type. Microsoft says this warning appears when any third-party keyboard is enabled; it is a warning about the potential access associated with the role, not an app-specific finding that the keyboard is malicious or uploads every key. Microsoft’s explanation of the warning is specific to its support documentation, so check the current warning and the keyboard’s own disclosures rather than treating the message as a verdict.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
What to check before installing a keyboard
- Verify the app and developer. Make sure the Play Store listing is for the keyboard you intend to install, and read its current Data safety section and privacy policy. Google says the Data safety section summarizes developer-declared collection, sharing, purposes, and certain security practices. Developers are responsible for the accuracy of those declarations, including relevant behavior by third-party SDKs and libraries. Treat the listing as a disclosure, not an independent audit. Google Play’s Data safety information explains what the section is intended to show.
- Look at the data categories and reasons given. Check whether the disclosures mention text, search queries, voice, identifiers, usage statistics, or learned words, and what the developer says each is used for. A feature’s purpose matters: searching from the keyboard or sending speech for transcription is different from ordinary local text entry.
- Inspect optional online features and their controls. Look for voice typing, search integrations, cloud backup or sync, personalization, and data or audio donation. Check whether each is optional, how to turn it off, and whether the app lets you delete learned words or other saved data. Google documents Gboard controls for saved words and federated learning; those options and their labels may change, so check the current app settings. Gboard help on typing and privacy and Google’s explanation of how Gboard gets better describe the company’s stated practices.
- Read the maker’s explanation of sensitive fields. Do not assume every website or app identifies password fields correctly, or that a password remains classified as such when you choose to reveal it. Microsoft SwiftKey says it does not learn from fields marked as password fields, while noting those conditions. This is Microsoft’s description of SwiftKey, not an independent test. SwiftKey’s password-data explanation gives its stated limits.
- Review sensitive permissions, especially microphone access. If the keyboard offers voice typing, check whether it requests microphone access and whether you can avoid granting it or disable voice features. Android’s permission manager and Privacy dashboard can help you review permissions such as microphone, camera, and location. They do not replace checking what the keyboard says it does with text. Android’s permission and privacy controls describe these system tools.
- Recheck after updates. App features, privacy disclosures, and controls can change. Revisit the listing, policy, and settings after a major update, especially if you begin using a networked feature you previously left off.
How to compare keyboards without assuming the warning decides it
Use the same questions for each candidate; the comparison is about declared practices and available controls, not a security ranking.
| What to compare | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Data and purposes | Which categories are declared, and why they are collected or used. |
| Sharing | Whether information is shared with the developer or third parties, according to the listing and policy. |
| Optional features | Whether voice, search, cloud sync, personalization, or model-improvement features can be disabled. |
| User controls | Whether you can delete learned words or saved data and where the controls are located. |
| Password-field handling | What the maker says about password fields, app labeling, and revealing a password. |
| Consistency and freshness | Whether the app identity, Play listing, policy, and in-app settings agree and are current. |
What vendor privacy statements establish
Product help pages can clarify how a maker says a specific feature works, but they are statements by that vendor rather than independent measurements of runtime behavior. For example, Google says Gboard searches are sent to Google for search results and voice used for talk-to-text is sent for transcription. Google also says other typed text, such as passwords or chats, and saved words are not sent to Google. Its separate explanation says federated learning sends what the model learns rather than the spoken or typed text itself, and describes optional audio-snippet donation. These statements concern Google’s Gboard and may change; consult the current documentation and settings for the version and features you use. Gboard help on typing and privacy and Google’s explanation of how Gboard gets better provide Google’s descriptions.
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.
Microsoft says SwiftKey personal and language data remain stored locally unless the user opts into a SwiftKey Account, and that some data may be shared for selected cloud services such as Backup & Sync. Its statements about password fields also depend on how the app or site marks those fields. These are Microsoft’s product disclosures, not an independent audit. SwiftKey’s privacy and cloud-services explanation describes its stated approach.
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A version-specific clipboard detail
Android 10 documentation says an app generally cannot access clipboard data unless it is the default IME or currently has focus. This is a rule described for Android 10, not a guarantee about every Android release or every keyboard’s handling of text. Android 10 privacy changes gives the version-specific context.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Charger NOT Included, 6.7" Super AMOLED FHD+, 90Hz Refresh Rate, 385 ppi, 800 nits (HBM), 1080x2340px, 5000mAh Battery
- 128GB, 4GB RAM, microSDXC, Exynos 1330 (5nm), Octa-Core, Mali-G68 MP2 or Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
- Rear Camera: 50MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 5MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) + 2MP, f/2.4 (macro), LED flash, panorama, HDR; Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.0, Android 14, up to 6 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
- 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100; 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/12/13/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71, 5G: 2/5/25/41/66/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Nano-SIM + eSIM
- US Model – Global Connectivity – Compatible with Most GSM Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Straight Talk.
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.
Rank #3
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
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