Cursor positioning in SMS editor
I don't know for sure as I haven't seen a Philips phone, but it sounds like Philips have put in their own SMS app which doesn't use the standard text entry field. The little tab to help you position the cursor accurately is part of that, not part of the keyboard.

If this is the case, then using a third-party SMS application instead will make it easier to use. There are many on Google Play, so just try one out and see if it helps.