IF YOU NOTICED Craig Federighi stumble over his explanation of 3D Touch while talking up the new iPhones by letting “Force Touch” slip out, you weren’t alone. While the function arguably is the most noteworthy thing about the latest iPhone S cycle, plenty of people caught the naming change.
But is it actually a change?
According to Apple patents, there is another level of sensitivity of Force Touch that will be used in the new iPhones. Basically, these two technologies do the same things, but what you’ll see in the newest iPhones is an additional level of sensitivity. Simply put, Force Touch has less capability to measure your touches and presses and doesn’t react as quickly to your input, whereas the new 3D Touch is highly sensitive and reacts immediately, while also allowing different “levels” of actions based on how firmly you press.
It might sound like an indistinguishable difference, but anyone who wants just a little bit more out of Force Touch (or really, really loves it) on the Apple Watch might disagree. With the Watch, you can push and wait for the click … and that’s it. Now, 3D Touch offers functions based on a lighter push or a firmer push. And if you ever felt that you had to force Force Touch on the Watch, 3D Touch should alleviate that with its higher sensitivity.
So, to sum it up, Force Touch and 3D Touch are based on the same technologies and use Apple’s Taptic Engine, but one is better than the other. Will Apple simply rename Force Touch to 3D Touch? You’d think not, given that they’re technically different, but perhaps it means the next iteration of the Apple Watch and Macbook will see this upgrade too.
Well, we can dream, anyway. But at least it’s clear that no, Apple is not backtracking from its awkward turn of phrase.
But is it actually a change?
According to Apple patents, there is another level of sensitivity of Force Touch that will be used in the new iPhones. Basically, these two technologies do the same things, but what you’ll see in the newest iPhones is an additional level of sensitivity. Simply put, Force Touch has less capability to measure your touches and presses and doesn’t react as quickly to your input, whereas the new 3D Touch is highly sensitive and reacts immediately, while also allowing different “levels” of actions based on how firmly you press.
It might sound like an indistinguishable difference, but anyone who wants just a little bit more out of Force Touch (or really, really loves it) on the Apple Watch might disagree. With the Watch, you can push and wait for the click … and that’s it. Now, 3D Touch offers functions based on a lighter push or a firmer push. And if you ever felt that you had to force Force Touch on the Watch, 3D Touch should alleviate that with its higher sensitivity.
So, to sum it up, Force Touch and 3D Touch are based on the same technologies and use Apple’s Taptic Engine, but one is better than the other. Will Apple simply rename Force Touch to 3D Touch? You’d think not, given that they’re technically different, but perhaps it means the next iteration of the Apple Watch and Macbook will see this upgrade too.
Well, we can dream, anyway. But at least it’s clear that no, Apple is not backtracking from its awkward turn of phrase.
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