When it comes to cutting-edge technology, Apple has a stellar record and they can be credited for getting the smartphone as we know it to become a mainstream device. While the brand is at the forefront where it comes to new technology such as Face ID, they also have a reputation for killing off features. Case in point, the CD-Drive on the Mac. Now, if reports are said to be true, then Apple will be killing off its most loved feature and something they once called revolutionary — 3D Touch. And this feature will cease to exist from the upcoming iPhone 11 onwards.
As per a report by Forbes, the latest indication that Apple will kill off this feature comes from DigiTimes and their analysis of Apple’s supply chain that’s involved in the making of the 2019 iPhones.
The report states, “Touch module makers TPK Holding and General Interface Solution (GIS) may see sales grow in the second half of 2019 though Apple may remove 3D touch sensors from all 2019 iPhone devices, according to industry sources.”
This latest information corresponds with reports from the Wall Street Journal that surfaced earlier this year. Apart from these reports, the biggest clue came at WWDC when they removed this feature from iOS 13 beta versions. Apple’s Craig Federighi claimed that this was a bug but it’s pretty evident that the revolutionary feature has no place in Apple’s plans and it is being phased out of the hardware.
Forbes reports, “Here lies the issue. Apple can announce revolutionary ideas, new interfaces, and new hardware; but it needs to back these up over the long term. Given the length of replacement cycles in smartphones, it’s likely that the last pre-3D Touch handsets would be replaced over the next 12 months, and the majority of those will be looking at either the 2018 or 2019 family of iPhone devices.”
If Apple had enough faith in its 3D Touch, then they would have continued to provide support for it and would have continued to include it in its 2019 iPhones.
With 3D Touch, Apple could eliminate some of its power-users who depend on this feature to undertake a handful of shortcuts.
Forbes goes on to add, “Contrast the lack of commitment to 3D Touch to that of Face ID. Not only did Apple commit fully to using Face ID on the iPhone, but it also backed up these statements by essentially ‘burning the ships’ underneath it by removing Touch ID from the iPhones with Face ID. That made a statement that people believed.”
