I used to dictate very long emails and texts on my old Apple XR iPhone but now I have upgraded to iPhone 13 pro ~ dictation is dreadful and either doesn’t work or dictates loads of random words even though I speak slowly and clearly and concisely. So disappointed. What has happened?
iPhone 13 Pro, iOS 15
Salutations Greenwich!,
When using Dictation, please be sure to test in multiple apps and using a different microphone (built-in vs from headphones), to help isolate the issue.
Making sure your device is up to date is helpful as well. The latest iOS version if iOS 15.5. You can check that in Settings > General > Software Update.
You mentioned this happens in long form. Are you noticing the issue with short dictations as well?
Thanks.
Frustrated from Greenwich,
Have you tested without a case or screen protector?
Are there any issues with recording a clear Voice Memo?
If you continue to have issues, we'd recommend visiting Contact Apple Support.
Have a fantastic day!
I found that I had to retrain my phone which was really annoying and it is a lot better now some two weeks in. Also if I talk much nearer to the bottom of my phone, i.e. the microphone., It transcribe it a lot better and more efficiently. I dictated this whole message and it got it 99% right which is a massive improvement! Good luck x
Hi there. Thanks for your reply. I dictate direct to my phone & not via headphones & yes I do def have latest software update. I have noticed dictation is only good & works better now when my mouth (& voice) is very close to my phone & no longer at a normal handheld distance & how I used to dictate. I miss this facility so much & how good it used to be. Now I have to dictate so close it is impossible to see the text that comes out so is a further moment to go back, check & edit. It is the same in all apps & packages. Why is it like this? Otherwise love my upgrade but very disappointed dictation & text outcome is so bad & just doesn’t work how it used to.
I just switched from android to iPhone 13 promax summer of 2022. It has been a hard transition, especially in the dictation arena, and I am glad to hear it used to be better.
My girlfriend ran iPhone XR for years and on speakerphone I could hear her clearly all the time from her microphone to my speaker. Now she has a new 13 promax and using her speakerphone the same way, she clips in and out and we can’t have a conversation on speaker phone unless her mouth is right by the mic.
Is it a microphone issue messing up the Apple software ability to speech to text? Has Apple messed with the algorithm and fixed something that wasn’t broke? I don’t know but moving from Google android to Apple has been very painful, even the screen interface, user interface, and touch are so far off and behind android. I am giving myself some acclamation time, but these shortcomings of Apple are very clear and I’m very surprised. Thank you Apple and I hope this helps in troubleshooting. By the way, dictation is ridiculous
Frustrated from Greenwich!
Got it. At this point, it would be best for you to Contact Apple Support directly.
Best wishes.
Btw it is the same in long & short form. Bad in both & even with a super short dictation, it still doesn’t work properly at all. A huge difference to my old phone that was great with dictation.
Thanks. Yes I have a screen protector & a screen case (as I also had for my old phone). Nothing is obscuring the base of the phone or the microphone input area. I just took my case off & tried to dictate a short section but it was exactly the same.
No solution, just a comment. I have the same issue. I use dictation on texts on my iPhone 8, running iOS 15.5. The results are dreadful - seemingly declining over the past few months. Before, It seemed to always get text and context correct 90% of the time, especially if the name of the person I am texting is actually in the Contacts. The name of a frequent recipient is ALWAYS wrong, and I have to stop and try to manually correct it - always transcribes "Eva" instead of me clearly saying "Ava" (in my contacts, and the name of the person I am texting). It actually will sometimes type "Ava" and then SWITCH "Ava" to "Eva". There is no "Eva" in my contacts. This is one of countless examples. This never used to be, and dictation was always pretty darn good. What happened?!!!
Siri dictation is dreadful on my new upgrade to apple iohone 13 pro
