iPhone 12 mini up arrow vs squiggly symbol

[appleiPhUser12]

Every now and then when messaging someone, I see an up arrow when I want to send it, but then other times I see the squiggly symbol. Why does it change to that? What's it mean?

 

[barbu]

Screenshot please

 

[appleiPhUser12]

That green arrow at the right there. It changes sometimes to the other icon where it shows you can speak to send a message instead. It changes between the two sometimes. I don't understand.

 

[barbu]

Oh ok. On my phone, the “audio” button is shown until I type a letter, at which point it changes to an arrow.

 

[appleiPhUser12]

Oh ok. On my phone, the “audio” button is shown until I type a letter, at which point it changes to an arrow.

Yea, so why when I go into iMessage, and to that person I texted, it changes?

 

[DeltaMac]

Isn't that the usual difference when you text to an iPhone, compared to texting to another device/android?
So, the symbol used suggests the destination device?

 

[DeepIn2U]

That green arrow at the right there. It changes sometimes to the other icon where it shows you can speak to send a message instead. It changes between the two sometimes. I don't understand.

Voice dictation is the wave form (squiggly lines you’re referring to)

Sms only users you have a green UP arrow (non iMessage users). To use voice dictation you’ll need to use the dedicated mic button on your iPhone keyboard.

For iMessage users you send an actual voice recording to them (wave form to the right of the message window)

See my screen shot attached. I simply tapped it to get this preview guide of what it does.