An input method and apparatus for a device having a graphical user interface (GUI)-based display unit includes allocating at least one region for a plurality of input units disposed on the device, defining input types different from each other for the allocated region, and controlling menu displayed on the display unit according to a signal input in the allocated region based on the defined input types. According to the method and apparatus, the use method and layout of a physically fixed input apparatus can be flexibly changed, thereby increasing the use scope of input types. Also, by integrating navigation inputs, character inputs, and button inputs, efficiency of using the area of a mobile device increases.