Apple’s 3D Touch was a groundbreaking technology introduced in 2015 with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. It brought a new way to interact with touchscreens by allowing devices to detect different levels of pressure. This enabled users to perform various actions based on how firmly they pressed on the screen.
How 3D Touch Works
The key to 3D Touch is a combination of hardware sensors and software algorithms. Beneath the display, Apple integrated pressure-sensitive sensors that measured microscopic changes in distance between the glass and the backlight. These sensors allowed the iPhone to determine the force level applied by the user’s finger.
Each time a user pressed firmly on the screen, the system measured the pressure and translated it into one of the following three interaction levels:
- Tap: A normal touch on the screen, which functions like any standard interaction.
- Light press (Peek): A gentle press that provides a preview of content without fully opening it.
- Firm press (Pop): A harder press which fully engages the selected content or action.
Apple paired this with haptic feedback using the Taptic Engine, which provided subtle vibrations to enhance the sensation of pressing the screen.
Features Enabled by 3D Touch
3D Touch unlocked several practical uses that improved user experience and efficiency, including:
Quick Actions
By firmly pressing on an app icon on the home screen, users could access a shortcut menu with commonly used functions. For example, pressing on the Camera app allowed quick access to “Take Selfie” or “Record Video.”
Peek and Pop
This feature allowed users to preview content without opening a full application. For instance, pressing lightly on an email gave a preview (Peek), while pressing harder opened it fully (Pop).
Pressure-Sensitive Drawing
In drawing and note-taking apps, 3D Touch enabled different stroke thicknesses depending on the pressure applied. This was particularly useful in apps like Notes and third-party creative tools.
Enhanced Text Navigation
Users could turn the iPhone keyboard into a trackpad by pressing down firmly, allowing for precise cursor movement when editing text. This made typing and correcting mistakes easier.
Limitations and Drawbacks
Despite its advantages, 3D Touch had several drawbacks that contributed to its eventual discontinuation:
- Learning Curve: Some users found it difficult to discover and remember pressure-sensitive actions.
- Hardware Complexity: The technology required additional sensors, making it costly to produce and repair.
- Lack of Universal Adoption: Many third-party apps did not integrate 3D Touch, limiting its overall utility.
Why Apple Discontinued 3D Touch
Apple phased out 3D Touch beginning with the iPhone XR in 2018 and officially removed it with the iPhone 11 lineup. It was replaced by Haptic Touch, a simpler mechanism that replicates similar functions using long presses combined with haptic feedback.
The decision to remove 3D Touch was likely influenced by several factors:
- Manufacturing Costs: Eliminating the hardware sensors reduced production complexity.
- Consistency Across Devices: 3D Touch was available only on specific iPhones, whereas Haptic Touch worked across all models, including iPads.
- Usability Improvements: Haptic Touch provided a more intuitive user experience without requiring pressure-sensitive gestures.
Conclusion
3D Touch was a remarkable innovation that refined touchscreen interactions by adding an extra dimension of control. However, its high manufacturing costs, inconsistent adoption, and usability challenges led Apple to replace it with Haptic Touch. While 3D Touch is no longer found in modern iPhones, it played an important role in advancing mobile interfaces and influencing future touch-based interactions.
