The microphone isn't a unique mobile feature — nowadays, all laptops come with built-in mics, and external devices can easily be connected to desktops.

However, it's more difficult to type using an on-screen keyboard than a physical keyboard. It’s one of the reasons why the microphone's popularity as an input device in smartphones is growing.

WhatsApp reports that its users send an average of 7 billion voice messages every day.^[1] Microphones are also used to access digital virtual assistants like Siri or Google Home.

When designing mobile apps, consider using voice input as a supplement to keyboard input.