Section For Most Used Emoji
tldr: Replace the first row of recently used emojis with the user's most used emojis. Press and hold emojis to qualify/disqualify them from the most used row to make room for new flavors of the month.
alt tldr: Press and hold emojis to favorite them. The recently used list will slowly be replaced with favorite emojis.
alt 2 tldr: create a new section of emojis for either of the above ideas.
Create a separate section for the emojis that a user uses the most. Another possibility, that doesn't create a cluster in the GUI, is making the top row (first 9 emojis) in the recently used section the most used emojis.
A minor quality of life addition would be pressing and holding on one of these emojis to disqualify them from the list. Finding the emoji in the other sections and doing the same thing should requalify the emoji for the most used section.
Reasoning:
Less time searching for your beloved emojis
One of my most used emojis used to be the 100 emoji. I used it a bunch and started trying out different emojis and it was no longer on my recently used list. It might still be my most used emoji even if it's not in my recently used list. I love it and want to use it, but because I haven't used it lately I have to search for it again.Minimal changes to the existing GUI
A most used row replacing the first row in the recently used list would only add a label to the GUI (or not, the label isn't too necessary.) So the GUI will have minimal changes design-wise.The recently used emoji section is unnecessarily large
Approximately 40 emojis is overkill for recently used emojis. ~30 recently used emojis and 9 most used emojis adds a better variety of options for the user.Easier emoji usage
If the user has 9 most used emojis with usage far higher than other emojis, it's easier for them to use their favorite emojis because they're in the same spot every time. Less time is spent sending those egg plant infested texts so you can get back to business faster.Changes in preference can be easy
The disqualification and requalification of most used emojis will give users an easy method of changing their emoji flavor of the month. Preferences change, that's an undeniable fact. No one wants to use their new favorite emoji 300 times just to get it on their most used list. With this small addition fads can come and go as quickly as they please.
As a final alternative suggestion, the top row can be favorited emojis selected by the user. It would use the same press and hold selection process. This method allows users to favorite as many emojis as they'd like by simply replacing a recently used emoji every time a new emoji is favorited. The recently used list decreases in size for every favorite emoji.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy this suggestion.