Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
iOS 13 & watchOS 6 Now Available
New iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Models Ditch 3D Touch in Favor of Haptic Touch
When introducing the new iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models on stage this morning during the "By Innovation Only" keynote, Apple execs mentioned "Haptic Touch" as one of the new features on the devices.
Haptic Touch is also listed as one of the features on the technical specifications page for each device, which means the rumors were true - Apple has officially nixed 3D Touch in its newest iPhones.
Last year, the iPhone XR was introduced with a Haptic Touch feature that replaces 3D Touch, which has now expanded to the entire iPhone lineup.
Haptic Touch does many of the same things that 3D Touch does so new iPhone users will not be missing out on much functionality, but it's not quite the same as the 3D Touch feature.
Rather than a pressure sensitive pop, Haptic Touch is a long press that's similar to the long press on other devices like the iPad but paired with haptic feedback so you get a little electric response when you press.
3D Touch had multiple levels of responsiveness due to the pressure sensitivity, which is not available with Haptic Touch. This allowed for "peek" and "pop" gestures that did different things depending on the force of the touch.
Apple first introduced 3D Touch in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, and it was used in the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPhone XS models before being discontinued.
Haptic Touch is also listed as one of the features on the technical specifications page for each device, which means the rumors were true - Apple has officially nixed 3D Touch in its newest iPhones.
Last year, the iPhone XR was introduced with a Haptic Touch feature that replaces 3D Touch, which has now expanded to the entire iPhone lineup.
Haptic Touch does many of the same things that 3D Touch does so new iPhone users will not be missing out on much functionality, but it's not quite the same as the 3D Touch feature.
Rather than a pressure sensitive pop, Haptic Touch is a long press that's similar to the long press on other devices like the iPad but paired with haptic feedback so you get a little electric response when you press.
3D Touch had multiple levels of responsiveness due to the pressure sensitivity, which is not available with Haptic Touch. This allowed for "peek" and "pop" gestures that did different things depending on the force of the touch.
Apple first introduced 3D Touch in the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s Plus, and it was used in the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPhone XS models before being discontinued.
Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro
Tag: September 2019 event
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)
[ 128 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
2 weeks ago
Sad day. Loss of the the truly unique input method only Apple had, yet famously didn't properly support or educate customers how to use.
Used to be able to 3D Touch and instantly get contextual menus, and do other functions in the system. Now we have long press which (as the name states) takes longer, now rebranded as something new.
Used to be able to 3D Touch and instantly get contextual menus, and do other functions in the system. Now we have long press which (as the name states) takes longer, now rebranded as something new.
2 weeks ago
For a "Pro" phone, it seems like such a step backwards to ditch 3D Touch hardware for a longer, time-consuming, inferior option
2 weeks ago
I've been using iOS 13 for awhile and have found basically zero instances where the "peek" and "pop" features even still exist.
it wasn't "essentially" a long press at all. it was a pressure sensitive press.
They really took away some of the deep functions in iOS. Dare I say, "Pro" features.
2 weeks ago
In other words; Haptic Touch is all software based, 3D Touch was hardware. Makes sense they would do this as the pressure sensitivity never offered any tangible benefits.
I use it all the time for selecting text.
2 weeks ago
I've been using iOS 13 for awhile and have found basically zero instances where the "peek" and "pop" features even still exist.
it wasn't "essentially" a long press at all. it was a pressure sensitive press.
3D touch was a gimmick - a feature that Apple touted as something unique but when you undress it, it was essentially a long-press.
it wasn't "essentially" a long press at all. it was a pressure sensitive press.
2 weeks ago
Haptic Touch is a poor substitute. 3D Touch was unique to iPhones and was a pleasure to use (where available). Apple really should have done more with it. Now we have to suffer the long press of Haptic Touch... it’s garbage in Safari especially. I hate that the contextual pop up comes up all the time and that the website previews are all or nothing.
2 weeks ago
3D Touch is objectively better than Haptic Touch. The "glad it's gone" crowd really sound nonsensical here.
2 weeks ago
Sad day. Loss of the the truly unique input method only Apple had, yet famously didn't properly support or educate customers how to use.
Used to be able to 3D Touch and instantly get contextual menus, and do other functions in the system. Now we have long press which (as the name states) takes longer, now rebranded as something new.
Haptic Feedback is a substitute, but that, just a substitute. 3D Touch is vastly superior.
2 weeks ago
3D touch was a gimmick - a hardware-level feature that Apple touted as something unique but when you undress it, it was essentially a long-press.
Except it isn’t I use it all the time on emails and photos. Soft press to preview then click though to open it.
[ Read All Comments ]
Burst Mode refers to when the camera on your iPhone captures a series of photos in rapid succession, at a rate of ten frames per second. It's a great way to shoot an action scene or an unexpected...
Apple's Portrait Mode has become a popular way of taking impressive shots using a depth-of-field effect known as bokeh, allowing iPhone users to shoot a photo that keeps the subject sharp with a...
Apple has redesigned the native Camera app on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro to make space for the various additional shooting options available in its new flagship phones, and one particularly...
Apple's massive launch week has come to a close, with the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, and Apple Watch Series 5 all debuting on Friday. And as if that wasn't enough, Thursday...
With the arrival of the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple has introduced an optional new camera feature in iOS 13 that's designed to allow you to correct the alignment of...
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with AnyTrans to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro Max devices and a lifetime AnyTrans license.
For...
Due to Apple seeding the iOS 13.1 beta prior to the public release of iOS 13, upgrading to a new iPhone may be a bit trickier this year.
In a support document, Apple has provided instructions...
Apple today the golden master version of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers, one week after seeding the eleventh beta and more than three months after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the...
