Wow, this is an awesome trick! Works beautifully on Google Pixel, wish I knew this one before. So useful in correcting dictated/autocomplete errors.

For what it's worth, that is a stock feature now on 3D Touch capable phones.

And imo much better implemented! I use both the Google keyboard and the default; Google's cursor swiping is one dimensional. Swipe back and forth to move around a line. The default one is two dimensional. You can swipe through columns too!

Apple's restrictions prevent third party keyboards from two dimensional scrolling (as well as selection, copy+paste etc)

I had a jail broken keyboard with two dimensional sliding which is better than force touch imo

Wordflow keyboard allows you to use the entire keyboard as a cursor with force press.

The stock keyboard does that as well.

This just might be the best thing Hacker News has ever done for my life. Seriously, life changing.

Meanwhile, I now have a legit reason to want a phone with force touch support, which the SE does not have. But the SE actually fits into my pockets and hands. So now I'm hosed either way. Thanks, ̶O̶b̶a̶m̶a̶HN.

Just tried this and... wow!

With force touch or just a regular swipe?

force touch on the stock/default keyboard