Force Touch

Why Force Touch makes sense for iOS platform

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Yesterday's report by a credible outlet provided an interesting outline of how Force Touch works and feels under iOS and on Apple's upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' smartphones. The basic premise behind outfitting an iPhone with a force-sensing screen is making user interface interactions faster with focus on shortcuts.

But there are still plenty of doubters out there who don't think Force Touch iPhones make much sense, arguing the technology is but a marketing gimmick which doesn't provide any benefit versus long-tapping items on the screen.

While there's some merits to those voices, I'm inclined to think they're missing the big picture and here's why.

Sources reveal how Force Touch works and feels on upcoming iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 10, 2015

Multiple credible sources are adamant that Apple's upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' smartphones will come outfitted with a screen which responds to pressure. Additionally, there 's some pretty solid evidence out there that iOS 9 on these new iPhones will feature built-in Force Touch support, potentially indicating a wider roll-out of the feature on future iOS devices.

And now, sources who spoke with 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman have provided interesting tidbits related to how Force Touch works and feels under iOS.

This concept video gives us a good idea why Force Touch iPhones will be a big deal

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 5, 2015

Force Touch parts for Apple's upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' phones have recently begun shipping in volume.

We even recently got our glimpse into the implementation of a force sensing layer on a leaked iPhone 6s screen. That being said, some people continue to be puzzled as to what benefits, if any, Force Touch would bring to their iPhone experience.

Maximilian Kiener set out to create a nice mockup video which gives us a good idea how pressing an iPhone's screen firmly could be a valuable user interface shortcut.

iPhone 6s display assembly with claimed Force Touch sensing layer surfaces

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 3, 2015

A trio of claimed spyshots were published this weekend by French blog NowhereElse.fr, ostensibly offering a first look at a fully assembled 'iPhone 6s' display with Force Touch technology. At first look, the part appears to be virtually unchanged from the front display assembly on the current iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in shape, size and overall design.

Upon closer inspection, however, some differences become apparent. For instance, you'll notice strange black dots running across the sides of a shielding which some folks say may or may not be related to Force Touch technology.

Force Touch for upcoming iPhones has entered mass production

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 31, 2015

Both analysts and the rumor-mill agree that a screen which senses force you apply to it should be one of the marquee hardware features of Apple's upcoming 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' smartphones. Plus, it certainly doesn't hurt that Apple thinks Force Touch iPhones will be a huge success.

Force Touch for the upcoming iPhones entered trial production earlier this month and now Apple supplier TPK has reportedly ramped up volume manufacturing of the force sensors, according to a report Friday by DigiTimes.

Apple believes new iPhones with Force Touch are going to be massively successful

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 8, 2015

According to a report Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal newspaper, Apple is putting high hopes into a forthcoming mid-cycle “S”-upgrade to the present-generation iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones.

The company apparently believes that an 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' which, among other things, sport new color options and Force Touch technology for sensing deep presses on the screen, should prove massively popular as it reportedly ordered its suppliers to build a record 90 million units this year.

Bloomberg: Apple begins production on new iPhones with Force Touch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has begun early production of new iPhone models with a feature called Force Touch, Bloomberg reports. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the outlet says that volume manufacturing is expected to ramp up as soon as next month.

Force Touch was first introduced in the Apple Watch last fall, and it enables a device to sense how hard users press down on its screen. The technology has since made its way into the MacBook, and has long been rumored for the next iPhone.

KGI: iPhone 6s to be marginally thicker due to Force Touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2015

Several supply chain reports have indicated that this year's 'iPhone 6s' and 'iPhone 6s Plus' releases will feature Apple's pressure-sensitive screen technology called Force Touch that debuted on the Apple Watch and now a revered analyst has given these reports an aura of credibility.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities wrote in a note to clients, a copy of which was obtained by the Japanese blog MacOtakara, that Apple's implementation of Force Touch on the upcoming phones will make them slightly thicker than the present-generation iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Both iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus rumored to support Force Touch after all

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 5, 2017

Pressure sensing will be supported across both display sizes of Apple's next-generation iPhones, G for Games reported Thursday citing supply chain sources who spoke with Taiwanese media.

The same outlet originally claimed that Apple’s pressure sensitive Force Touch technology would make an exclusive appearance on a larger-screened iPhone 6s Plus.

Though it was initially supposed to be an iPhone 6s Plus exclusive, both devices should make use of pressure sensing after all. A credible report earlier this week asserted that iOS 9, which will be previewed alongside OS X 10.11 at next month's WWDC, features built-in Force Touch support.

Apple patents hybrid ‘Fusion’ keyboard with gestures, forceful pressure and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 26, 2015

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Tuesday awarded Apple a patent for a hybrid multitouch keyboard that would incorporate touch-sensitive mechanical keys with two-position mechanical switches for activating tasks at different levels of pressure.

Titled ‘Fusion keyboard’, the U.S. Patent No. 9,041,652 explores a touch sensitive mechanical keyboard for detecting touch events and key depressions.

iOS 9 tidbits: Force Touch support, updated keyboard designs, iMessage enhancements & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 26, 2015

iOS 9, the next major iteration of Apple's mobile operating system powering the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, reportedly has built-in support for Force Touch technology which debuted on the Apple Watch, suggesting the possibility of pressure-sensitive screens on the next iPhone and iPad.

According to a new report by 9to5Mac, the operating system also features support for Apple Pay in Canada, has improved software keyboard with new designs and enhances iMessage by enabling read receipts for group chat threads and on a per-contact basis.

Apple Watch Edition booklet details Force Touch implementation, manufacturing process and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 25, 2015

Recent photos and video depicting an Apple Watch Edition being unboxed provide an interesting insight into engineering that went into the creation of force sensing on the wrist-worn device, with details that go well beyond Apple's rather scarce description on the Technology section of the Apple Watch mini-site.

As you know, not only does the Apple Watch display respond to touch-based gestures like tapping and swiping, it also uses Force Touch technology to respond to the pressure of your finger.

Now, gold Apple Watch Editions ship with a rather informative booklet that mostly deals with Apple's manufacturing process. In addition, this booklet sheds more light on the implementation of Force Touch technology and other hardware features of the devices such as sapphire screen protection, Apple's smallest speaker yet and more.