Emoji Keyboard 2018 Review: Fast, Fun, and Fully CustomizableThe mobile keyboard is no longer just a typing tool — it’s a creativity engine, a shortcut hub, and a personal expression platform. In 2018, emoji keyboards matured from novelty add-ons into full-featured alternatives to stock keyboards, offering speed, advanced prediction, deep customization, and huge emoji/sticker libraries. This review covers the user experience, performance, customization options, privacy considerations, and who should consider installing an emoji keyboard in 2018.
Quick verdict
Emoji Keyboard 2018 delivers fast typing, playful expression options, and broad customization. Most third-party emoji keyboards in 2018 strike a strong balance between convenience (gesture typing, predictions) and fun (animated emoji, stickers, themes), though individual apps vary in polish, ad policies, and privacy practices.
What to expect from an emoji keyboard in 2018
By 2018 the best emoji keyboards typically include:
- Gesture (swipe) typing and smart autocorrect.
- Integrated emoji search and emoji predictions inline with text suggestions.
- Large libraries: emoji, GIFs, stickers, and sometimes custom stickers/avatars.
- Theming and layout options — colors, fonts, key sizes.
- Clipboard managers, multilingual support, and built-in settings for haptics and sounds.
- Emoji combo suggestions and frequently-used emoji lists.
- Optionally, mini-apps or integrations (translator, GIF search, GIF creators).
Performance and typing experience
Performance is key for any keyboard. In 2018, top emoji keyboards deliver:
- Low input latency: gestures and taps register quickly.
- Accurate autocorrect and context-aware predictions that reduce mistakes and speed up typing.
- Smooth cursor control and easy selection (press-and-hold, swipe on spacebar on some keyboards). Smaller or ad-supported keyboards sometimes suffer from lag or occasional freezes, especially on older phones or low-memory devices.
Example strengths:
- Gesture typing makes one-handed texting faster.
- Inline emoji suggestions reduce the need to open an emoji panel. Example weaknesses:
- Heavy sticker/GIF rendering can slow some keyboards.
- Some apps push too many theme packs or ads that interrupt flow.
Customization: themes, layouts, and personalization
Customization is a headline feature for 2018 emoji keyboards:
- Themes: change backgrounds, key shapes, and color schemes. Many offer downloadable or purchasable theme packs.
- Layouts: one-handed mode, compact layouts, or split keyboards for tablets.
- Key customization: resize keys, long-press options, custom shortcuts.
- Personal emoji suggestions: the keyboard learns which emojis you use and surfaces them quickly.
- Custom sticker creation: a few apps let you turn photos into stickers or create personal avatar stickers.
Customization trade-offs:
- Deeper customization often requires in-app purchases.
- Excessive themes or plugins can bloat the app.
Emoji, GIFs, and sticker ecosystems
Emoji keyboards increasingly unify expressive content:
- Emoji search by keyword and category makes finding the right emoji faster.
- GIF and sticker integration (often powered by large libraries) lets you browse and insert multimedia without leaving the keyboard.
- Some keyboards support animated emoji or emoji variations and skin tones.
- Popular apps offer trending stickers and seasonal packs.
Caveat: using large media libraries increases app size and sometimes network usage.
Privacy and permissions
A major consideration for keyboards: they handle everything you type. In 2018:
- Many emoji keyboards request “full access” on iOS or extensive permissions on Android to enable cloud suggestions, GIF search, and syncing.
- Full access can mean typed data is sent to servers for processing. Reputable apps publicly document how they use data; less reputable ones may collect more than necessary.
- If privacy is a priority, prefer keyboards that:
- Offer on-device prediction (no cloud).
- Minimize permissions.
- Publish a clear privacy policy and don’t sell data.
- For sensitive typing (passwords, bank info), iOS disables third-party keyboards by default on secure fields; Android behavior varies.
Ads and monetization
Most free emoji keyboards in 2018 monetize via:
- Ads (banner, interstitial) — can be intrusive in some apps.
- In-app purchases for premium themes or sticker packs.
- Subscriptions for cloud sync, advanced features, or ad removal.
If you dislike ads, look for paid or freemium models that allow a one-time purchase or subscription to remove ads.
Battery and storage impact
- Feature-rich emoji keyboards can be larger (tens of MB) and consume some memory while active.
- Background features (cloud syncing, updates to sticker libraries) may use data and battery; options to limit auto-updates or offline mode help control this.
Compatibility and language support
- Top keyboards in 2018 support dozens of languages and multilingual typing, often auto-detecting language switches.
- Regional emoji sets and localized sticker packs are common in widely used apps.
Best use cases
- Social users who want quick access to GIFs, stickers, and emoji in chats and social apps.
- People who type a lot on mobile and appreciate gesture typing and advanced autocorrect.
- Users who enjoy customizing the look and feel of their keyboard.
- Not ideal for users prioritizing maximum privacy unless the app explicitly supports on-device processing and minimal permissions.
Short app comparison table
| Feature | Emoji Keyboard A (popular) | Emoji Keyboard B (lightweight) | Emoji Keyboard C (privacy-focused) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gesture typing | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| GIFs & stickers | Extensive | Minimal | Minimal |
| Custom themes | Many (paid) | Few | Basic |
| Ads | Some | Fewer | None |
| Cloud suggestions | Yes | Optional | No (on-device) |
| App size | Larger | Small | Medium |
Tips for choosing and using an emoji keyboard in 2018
- Try one or two popular keyboards to compare typing speed and prediction quality.
- Review permissions and privacy policy before granting full access.
- Disable background syncing if you want to save data/battery.
- Use one-handed or compact layouts if you have a large phone.
- Clear or manage custom dictionaries periodically if autocorrect begins to learn bad habits.
Final thoughts
Emoji Keyboard 2018 and competitors turned the keyboard into an expressive, personalized workspace while keeping typing fast and convenient. Choose based on the balance you want between expression (GIFs, stickers, themes), typing efficiency (gestures, prediction), and privacy. For most users, a well-reviewed emoji keyboard from a reputable developer adds fun and speed to everyday messaging without sacrificing core functionality.
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