Apple Plans to Expand Uses of Haptic Touch on iPhone XR Over Time

[VictorTango777]

The feature is a substitute for 3D Touch, which Apple wasn't able to include on the iPhone XR in order to achieve a nearly edge-to-edge LCD screen, a remarkable engineering feat.

Can someone elaborate on this rationalization, seeing as how the iPhone X and XS have "nearly edge-to-edge" screens and 3D Touch?

No need for replies such as "Personally, I don't use it", etc. I am interested in knowing the technical reasons it could not be included, if there are any. If this was purely a cost-cutting move or an attempt to "convince" people to buy XS, then the company should just say so.

 

[BigDO]

If anything, the fact that they are trying to emulate 3D Touch on budget phones unable of supporting is proof that they will stick with it.

 

[Rogifan]

All this talk about 3D touch makes me want to use it more.

I don’t get the hate for it. Is it really bothering anybody? It’s not like users are forced to use it.

 

[MacBH928]

3D touch is an extremely undervalued feature... its like a right-button on a mouse... remember when Apple had only 1 button mice?

it is indeed very useful and underused

 

[Rogifan]

All this talk about 3D touch makes me want to use it more.

I don’t get the hate for it. Is it really bothering anybody? It’s not like users are forced to use it.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

I think that this is a hinting towards ios 13 being a massive redesign, making 3d touch functionality obsolete

 

[FightTheFuture]

How about they focus on getting Touch ID and the headphone jack re-introduced instead???

Should we go back to 30-pin connectors and Edge antennas too? How about a physical keyboard for those hardcore Blackberry users?

There's a reason these ports and features don't exist anymore - something better came along.

 

[Naaaaak]

Peek and Pop is such a waste of a feature in most cases. Force-press as an alternative to a long-press, or a user-configurable shortcut is better in most cases.
[doublepost=1540319772][/doublepost]

Should we go back to 30-pin connectors and Edge antennas too? How about a physical keyboard for those hardcore Blackberry users?

There's a reason these ports and features don't exist anymore - something better came along.

Except the guy you quoted is correct in that the headphone jack IS better.

Using a headphone plugged into headphone jack won't give you ear cancer through wireless proximity.

Using a headphone plugged into headphone jack won't lose power independent of its device mid-song.

Using a headphone plugged into headphone jack won't have pairing issues.

If anything, they should have introduced a better headphone jack and standardized it. Shorter prong, potentially higher power draw to allow development of newer bass-heavy devices.


Touch ID is arguably better, too. I don't have to position my phone in front of me to unlock it and "muh security" is on the same level.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I like 3D touch. Makes the phone feel more organic and life-like. I think they should expand its use. It could be doing much more than it is currently.

 

[Kestrel452]

Should we go back to 30-pin connectors and Edge antennas too? How about a physical keyboard for those hardcore Blackberry users?

There's a reason these ports and features don't exist anymore - something better came along.

Sorry, but bluetooth is not better than the headphone jack. Please don't let Apple delude you into thinking such things.

There is no technological replacement for it yet. You either need battery powered, wireless headphones, or the lightning to 3.5mm adapter. As someone who wants the best sound possible from my equipment, Bluetooth just doesn't come close to cutting it. Especially for headphones.

 

[user1234]

For that reason, Haptic Touch does not work with Quick Actions when you long press on an app icon on the iPhone XR home screen.

Except the Files app on iPad does exactly this. So does Chrome, Google Drive, GarageBand, Books, Pages, Numbers, Nextcloud, VLC, Shortcuts and probably a bunch others. You just keep holding to get the apps to wiggle.

 

[macduke]

I can't believe we lost the headphone jack for this.

Where did you get that idea? The iPhone 6s has 3D Touch and a headphone jack.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Are we doing two-button mice yet?

 

[Tinototem]

I use 3d-touch a lot for notifications and on icons. I really hope to get Haptic Touch for at least these two scenarios.

 

[macduke]

Using a headphone plugged into headphone jack won't give you ear cancer through wireless proximity.

That's not a thing. You just made that up.

Using a headphone plugged into headphone jack won't lose power independent of its device mid-song.

Popping them in the case for a few minutes gives hours of charge. I've never had a problem with it and I listen to podcasts and music all day at work.

Using a headphone plugged into headphone jack won't have pairing issues.

I haven't had pairing issues since launch. If anything it's easier because iCloud automatically pairs it to all of your devices after the first pairing and then you don't have to worry about it. You just tap the wireless icon in Control Center and select them and they connect by the time exit that and open Overcast or Apple Music. And the range of Apple's wireless chip is pretty crazy. I bought them at launch skeptical that they weren't going to be that great and today I would argue that they're the best product that Apple has shipped in years.

If anything, they should have introduced a better headphone jack and standardized it. Shorter prong, potentially higher power draw to allow development of newer bass-heavy devices.

Now that is a pointless addition. Furthermore, lightning already accomplishes this, aside from it being a standard. You can still buy lots of wired headphones with that connector because iPhone is very popular.

Wireless earbuds are so much nicer when I'm working and exercising. They don't get tangled around my arm when I'm working on my MBP and they don't bounce around all over tugging at my ears while creating weird vibrational noise when running. All I need is my Apple Watch and my AirPods and I'm good for exercising.

Touch ID is arguably better, too. I don't have to position my phone in front of me to unlock it and "muh security" is on the same level.

Agreed. It's annoying to hold a device up to your face, or not be able to unlock when it's sitting on your desk and you want to check a notification. Touch ID is much faster and more reliable. I wish they had implemented it under the display. I think in the future they will have a wider field of view for scanning and it will get even faster, but for now we unfortunately have to deal with it.

 

[gaximus]

I wonder if this could all be solved with longer presses. For peek pop, just peek for a moment and if you're still peeking after another moment, pop in! The duration you can peek before it auto pops in could be a preference. For wiggling and moving app icons around, maybe just wait for two long presses in the same spot or something.

Anyway I think it could be done. I wont particularly miss 3D touch myself. I really only used it to get to the wireless/Bluetooth settings a little bit quicker.

That would be awful, sometimes I would want to use peak for a lot longer. Also why have a long tap to see the peak anyway, I could just open it view it and swipe back, before the long tap even registered in some cases.

 

[justperry]

Makes sense, removing the 3D Touch layer will allow Apple to design thinner phones OR use that space for thicker batteries.

Fixed.


As for 3Dtouch, use it daily, don't know if long press would be the same.

 

[falainber]

Not liking this. 3D Touch is my most favorite feature on iPhone. Can't fathom it's disappearance.

I get an impression that many people who do like 3D Touch like it not for its usefulness (it does not really offer any benefits over the long press) but simply because it's a feature that Android phones don't have.

 

[JPack]

Fixed.


As for 3Dtouch, use it daily, don't know if long press would be the same.

Why think in binary terms?

Apple can do both, make a device thinner and put in a thicker battery. They don't have to devote the entire 0.4mm to either one or the other.

 

[twistedpixel8]

Long press and 3D Touch allow much more UI options. I actually really like it.

It’s also very difficult to accidentally activate things with 3D Touch. Imagine accidentally “long pressing” the flashlight button on the lock screen and not realizing because it’s in your pocket.

I hope they keep it as a feature in at least some iPhones. Don’t know why people are so hostile toward it!

 

[justperry]

Why think in binary terms?

Apple can do both, make a device thinner and put in a thicker battery. They don't have to devote the entire 0.4mm to either one or the other.

Fair enough.
But don't you think you will get much better battery life out of 0.2mm.

 

[jclardy]

I think this is code for "We are finally going to change springboard in iOS 13" and deleting/moving apps will get a new non-conflicting gesture.

 

[predation]

one of the reasons i went with the x line of phones.
I use Peek-and-pop extensively to read messages without others knowing i read them. lol

 

[ignatius345]

Popping them in the case for a few minutes gives hours of charge. I've never had a problem with it and I listen to podcasts and music all day at work.

Popping what in what case? Not everybody is using Earpods, mate. The fact that they don't have to be recharged, ever, is a win in the "wired headphones" column. Sheer sound quality uncompromised by wireless compression is another. Your Earpods are working for you, great, but they'd also be working just the same on a phone with a wired headphone jack.

 

[Killa Aaron]

The example keeps getting brought up that long-pressing an app icon on the home screen activates wiggle mode--my guess is that the rumored homescreen/springboard revamp in iOS 13 will include a substantial change to the user flow that eliminates this problem altogether.

edit page in iOS 13.