Phone Whisper launches local dictation for Android

This is the right shape for Android voice input: keep the keyboard, float an overlay, and make the transcription engine a choice instead of a lock-in. The real test will be whether local models stay good enough once users hit accents, jargon, and messy punctuation.

• –Local mode is the standout: sherpa-onnx plus downloadable models makes this genuinely offline, privacy-first, and usable without an API key.
• –The model menu is practical rather than flashy: tiny/faster options for speed, plus larger models when users want better quality.
• –Accessibility-based insertion is clever but also the main friction point; app compatibility will matter as much as raw transcription accuracy.
• –The Termux command mode is a smart developer hook because it turns dictation into a terminal workflow, not just chat text.
• –Cloud cleanup with the user’s own OpenAI key is a good escape hatch for people who want better punctuation and formatting without a backend.