Apple repeatedly notes that only certain models support split keyboard (https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/move-the-onscreen-keybo...). This page was even renamed since iOS 16 from "Use a split keyboard" (https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/use-a-split-keyboard-ip...), the screenshot of a split keyboard was replaced with a floating one, and the legacy split keyboard information was moved to the bottom of the page.

There are two caveats, though. Firstly, I type differently when using swipe. As it favors words from the dictionary, my texts sound less spoken and more written. And secondly, having backspace delete the whole word is a critical feature to avoiding annoyance. If none of the predictions are correct, I just tap backspace and then type the word like I usually would. This, combined with the rarity of those hiccups makes swipe typing quicker than regular typing to me.

It also helps with relaxing my wrists as I can also hold the phone with one hand and swipe with the middle finger of my other in a gesture like holding a pen, but without the pen.

Maybe there's actually a third aspect; screen and hand size. I haven't owned any big phones, my iphone 13 mini is the biggest phone I ever owned, but I do have large hands, so swipe typing with a single thumb is not very difficult. Your experience might be different depending on your anatomy and device.

Did you check it lately? It’s really good now since iOS 17… but indeed it was bad before.

After a relatively short time, I stopped having to look at the keys or think about letters. Touch typing from keyboard transfers over well.