Email App Review: Gmail on iOS and iPadOS

The popularity of emails in the modern world is matched only by the overwhelming number of options available for your digital mailbox.

However, sometimes you just need an app that gets things done without any major fuss. Gmail is one such app.

For many iPhone and iPad users out there, Gmail is more than capable of handling all of their email needs (and then some).

Its wide variety of features geared towards efficiency and a clutter-free inbox is popular and extremely well-received, leading to the satisfaction of its many users.

Simply put: The app’s straightforward approach means you won’t need to invest much time in learning Gmail’s different nitty-gritty, tiny details just to get it up and running!

Among other things, this review will cover the following:

Gmail features for iOS and iPadOS
Thoughts on the app from actual users
The pros and cons of using Gmail.

Let’s dive into it!

What is Gmail iOS and iPadOS?

Acting as both an email client and email server, Gmail is arguably one of the most popular and commonly used apps in the present day.

Gmail was founded in 2004 by tech giant Google and initially banked on free storage that was larger than any other service offered at the time.

Two years later, Google released the first mobile Gmail app that was available for phones capable of running JavaScript. Pushing forward toward rival Apple’s territory, Google released the first version of the Gmail app for iOS and iPadOS in 2011.

Over the years, Google has continuously updated the Gmail app and provided it with new features to compete with other email apps– specifically Apple’s Mail app, the native email client for iOS and iPadOS users.

When it comes to visual appeal, Gmail for iOS and iPadOS has a clean interface that puts the focus on your emails.

Owing to Gmail’s organized and productive philosophy, the menu and advanced settings are neatly tucked away for a less cluttered view.

Gmail iOS and iPadOS Features

Notably, Gmail is a cross-platform app available across multiple types of devices. As long as you use the same Gmail account, you can access your emails from your desktop, laptop, tablet, and phone.

In particular, we’ll delve into the features that Gmail offers for its iOS and iPadOS versions!

iOS

1. Screen Widgets

If you like the convenience of not having to open your Gmail app every time to check for new emails, consider using Gmail’s widget for iOS.

One of iOS’ key features is its seamless and intuitive use of widgets. Various apps offer different kinds of widgets that allow users to perform quick actions. In the case of Gmail, you actually have two widgets that you can use.

The first widget is aptly named “Email Updates”. When you use this widget, you automatically get an updated list of your last three emails right on your home screen.

The widget displays the email subject and a condensed view of the first few words in the email body, providing you with a handy glimpse of the communications you’ve received. There’s also a quick way to type up emails in the widget itself.

The second widget is named “Quick Email Actions”. Staying true to its name, this widget allows you to compose emails and to check how many unread emails you currently have.

Unlike the “Email Updates” widget, “Quick Email Actions” also has a convenient search bar that you can use to immediately find any email, attachment, or contact you have.

2. Mail Swipe

Image demonstrating how to use swipe left and swipe right features in Gmail for iOS

Have you ever been inundated with a huge pile of unread emails, some of which you want to delete and others you just want to mark as read? Going through your inbox and holding each message to perform a specific action can get cumbersome really quickly.

Fortunately, like its Android counterpart, Gmail for iOS also offers convenient mail swipe actions.

By taking full advantage of your iPhone’s touch screen, you can perform quick actions within your inbox. Currently, there are two swipes available: The left and right swipe.

You can fully customize what each swipe does, depending on your needs. The available quick actions are Archive, Trash, Mark as Read/Unread, Snooze, and Move.

If you don’t like the feature or just want to turn it off, you also have the option to assign no actions for your swipes.

3. Labeling Emails

Image demonstrating how to create labels in Gmail for iOS.

Because we often play different roles at work and in our personal lives, our inboxes can become cluttered with all sorts of emails.

For instance, there might be an important message from your boss or client, or a personal invitation you need to RSVP for.

With Gmail for iOS, you can conveniently group together similar emails to organize your inbox. Not only can you customize your labels, but you can also set up your Gmail to only show similarly-labeled emails.

Let’s say you have several emails that deal exclusively with work. You can collectively label them as “Work” and organize your inbox to only display the emails with the appropriate label.

Neat, right?

Gmail also provides a list of up to 500 labels on your menu. Even if you’re unlikely to use that many labels, it’s a comfortable number to have available.

4. Automatic Inbox Sorting

Image pointing out Gmails automatic filter feature.

One of Gmail’s most powerful and useful features is its automatic inbox sorting. With the intention of keeping your inbox as organized as possible, Gmail offers an option where you don’t have to see all of your emails at once.

Your inbox can become jam-packed with all sorts of emails that vary from direct communications to social media updates and marketing emails. Gmail provides you with categories that automatically sort these emails into appropriate tabs.

By default, three categories are activated: Primary (which you can’t disable), Social (updates from social networks), and Promotions (marketing and promotional emails).

There are currently two more categories you can use: Forums (messages from online groups) and Updates (auto-generated updates).

By default, three categories are activated: Primary (which you can’t disable), Social (updates from social networks), and Promotions (marketing and promotional emails).

There are currently two more categories you can use: Forums (messages from online groups) and Updates (auto-generated updates).

The result? A cleaner, less cluttered inbox.

With this system, only the most essential emails appear in your inbox. Of course, you can navigate to the other tabs at any time and see what other emails you’ve received as well!

5. Integration With Other Google Products

Because Google also creates a variety of other products aside from Gmail, it also provides some level of integration among them.

For instance, when sharing files through Google Drive, Google’s own cloud service, recipients are notified via email. You can then directly access these files from your Gmail inbox without needing to find the shared file in your Google Drive.

This also applies to other Google apps such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

For invitations, Google Calendar can send email invites that show up in your recipient’s Gmail as well. You can also start a video meeting in Google Meet from Gmail so you don’t need to separately open these apps!

Of course, in order to use this integration, these Google apps must already be installed on your iPhone.

6. Smart Replies, Nudges, and Undo Send

If you want to quickly acknowledge an email without going through the trouble of composing one, you can use Gmail’s Smart Reply feature.

The app analyzes the content of the email you just received and suggests quick responses which you can then tap to send. Gmail’s suggestions are usually appropriate replies based on how you typically sound, but you can freely modify them as you wish.

Additionally, Gmail also offers Nudges. When this feature is activated, Gmail will suggest emails that you haven’t replied to yet or those which you might need to follow up on.

This is extremely convenient when you’re dealing with a lot of emails, and something important might have gotten buried under everything else.

Finally, if you’ve made an embarrassing typo in your email, you’ll have the option to recall it quickly and make the appropriate edits. You can even customize how much time you have to recall an email after pressing send!

iPadOS

The features available with Gmail for iOS are also offered by Gmail for iPadOS.

AI Features

Smart Compose: Gmail uses AI to help you generate emails according to your writing style.

Automated Messages: Powered by Google’s proprietary AI, Gmail can compose automated messages in Gmail, text messages, and other Google apps.

Help Me Write: Gmail can use AI to help you write a new draft. This feature can create entire email drafts for you based on simple prompts.

Gmail iOS and iPadOS Reviews: What Do People Think of It?

While some people argue Gmail is better for non-Apple products, the Gmail app has nevertheless received a 4.6-star rating on the Apple App Store and is ranked #1 among productivity applications.

In 2020, one reviewer attested found that the app is “simple”, which they like.

A Reddit thread discussing the email client had some positive and some negative comments. Notably, one Redditor likes the Gmail app overall but finds that it doesn’t handle non-Gmail accounts particularly well.

This comment was reiterated by other similar comments on the forum.

Another Redditor recommended the Gmail iOS app, “especially if you check your email from multiple Apple devices,” because of the reliable syncing mechanism. This same commenter attested to fast and reliable notifications from the Gmail app. Overall, Gmail for iOS and iPadOS is quite popular and recommended by its users. However, some do have issues with several of the app’s functionalities, or simply prefer a different email client better suited to their needs.

Gmail iOS and iPadOS Pricing

As of this writing, Gmail for iOS and iPadOS is free.

If you use Gmail for work or business purposes, Google offers Google Workspace plans for individuals and businesses.

However, note that purchasing a subscription to any Google Workspace plan provides you access to a multitude of features across Google (not just in Gmail) and an expanded Google storage.

For the most part, if you’re not interested in the additional features, you can continue using your Gmail for free. After all, it already comes with a pretty sizable cloud storage option upfront.

Gmail iOS and iPadOS Pros and Cons

Pros

👍 An incredibly functional and straightforward application that performs as advertised, is user-friendly, and efficient

👍 Integrates well with other Google products

👍 The option to recall emails for a customizable time period

👍 Allows you to include attachments in your email without much fuss

👍 Reliably notifies users of new emails

👍 Excellently syncs with the Gmail applications on your other devices.

Cons

👎 Unlike other email clients, it’s more convoluted to add non-Gmail mailboxes

👎 Gmail uses TLS encryption by default, which can make sending emails less secure if your recipient doesn’t use TLS

👎 Compared to Apple Mail, emails in Gmail don’t appear as clearly in Dark mode due to Gmail’s rendering engine.

The Bottom Line: Should You Use Gmail on iOS and iPadOS?

Gmail on iOs and ipadOS is a popular email app that you can use on your iPhone and iPad.

If you already use multiple Google applications and are looking for ease of integration between these applications and your virtual mailbox, Gmail for iOS and iPadOS may be the email client for you.

Also, users who like an intuitive mail app that allows them to easily attach pictures or files to their messages or recall an accidental email will be pleased with Gmail’s features.

However, because more secure encryption is locked behind paid Google Workspace plans, you may want to consider alternative email apps for your iPhone or iPad. This is also true if you use multiple emails from different email services.

Nevertheless, Gmail is one of the best email apps you can find for iOS and iPadOs overall.

If you can live with the app’s shortcomings, Gmail rewards you with a no-nonsense, organized, and efficient way of managing your digital inbox.

Life is already messy. Gmail ensures your emails don’t add to that!