Camera and app icons replaced by > on iPhone

Upon further review...

Chalk the ">" thing as my being inattentive. The camera and apps icons routinely change to the ">" prompt after about the fourth or so word typed. The event that started my closer inspection in the texting domain (and got me sidetracked with the icons) was the text that I received. It was a text containing two options "1. blah blah blah. 2. blah blah blah. Let me know."

When I selected the message to reply, my text box was populated with "Check and Check" before I started typing. Once I started typing, the "Check and Check" disappeared, replaced by my typing.

I have tried replicating between my and wife's phone, but have been unsuccessful.

I do not know the originating phone, but am assuming it is an iPhone since our text bubbles are blue not green. Other than that, I don't know if the originator was doing some magic on their end, even though he has professed to not knowing what I'm talking about when pursued.

I have probably invested way more time on this potential anomaly than I should, but that's what I do...

Thanks for whatever insight, explanation you can provide.

Bruce

Now that’s what I’m talking about! Thanks for the answer.

Now it’s time for me to learn more about Predictive Text... a blessing and curse.