14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is planning to retire the 3D Touch feature available on the iPhone, and the company is likely to make the first step this year with the LCD model.
This is what KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it’s going to happen, as Apple is looking into ways to make its devices lighter and more durable.
The company is expected to introduce three different iPhone models this year, out of which one would come with an LCD panel. It is supposed to be more affordable than its OLED siblings, and as a result, Apple will probably remove 3D Touch as well.
This is just the beginning of a complete retirement of the feature, Kuo explains, and next year, all iPhone models would launch without 3D Touch.
Cost-saving decision
According to a recent investor note sent by the analyst, there are signs that the LCD iPhone launching in the fall will employ what’s being called CGS, or Cover Glass Sensor. In other words, the touch sensor won’t be integrated into the display, but into the protection glass, which could presumably not only make the device more durable, but also make it easier to repair in case of physical damage to the screen.
As it turns out, Apple is looking into a design that also involves a thin film sensor, but Kuo says its purpose is yet to be determined.
All in all, however, going for this new design means Apple has to spend more money on separating the touch sensor from the display, so in order to keep the price down, 3D Touch would be dropped entirely.
Without a doubt, however, this is likely to disappoint many of the buyers, as 3D Touch has become an important part of the iOS experience. It allows users to launch certain apps and OS features faster by pressing on the screen harder.
This year’s iPhone generation is due to launch in September, and the LCD model with a 6.1-inch screen and without 3D Touch is projected to be the best-selling model this year.