Samsung Galaxy S7 'will have a 3D Touch pressure sensitive display'
APPLE could be about to lose its monopoly on pressure sensitive smartphone displays.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is still six months away from hitting UK shelves – but there is no shortage of rumours surrounding the upcoming Samsung handset.
Samsung is believed to be developing a pressure sensitive display for its next generation Galaxy smartphone.
The South Korean technology firm has approached Synaptics, which has developed a 3D Touch alternative called ClearForce.
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Similar to 3D Touch, ClearForce responds to various levels of screen pressure.
The pressure sensitive technology will allow Samsung to add control options to the display than the traditional swipe, pinch and tap used on multi-touch smartphones.
Apple introduced pressure sensitive displays to its product line with the Apple Watch.
The Cupertino firm incorporated its new technology into its best-selling smartphone with the release of the iPhone 6S in September.
3D Touch allows faster access to a number of new menus baked into iOS.
Pushing harder than a standard tap on an app icon now summons a new menu of frequently used features. Pushing into documents, emails or URLs pops open a live preview.
The ClearForce technology will be able to control scrolling speeds with pressure, add new ways to zoom and pan over photographs, summon hidden contextual menus, according to Synaptics.
Unfortunately the success of the technology depends on the implementation by Samsung.
Different Android manufacturers could use the technology in different ways too.
This could lead to a dramatically different experience on Samsung, as opposed to HTC, for example.
Google would have to incorporate pressure sensitive technology within its pure version of Android to create some consistency.
However Samsung has a history of making new technology popular through its Galaxy smartphone range.
In recent years, the South Korean firm has helped to popularise features such as heart-rate sensors and fingerprint readers.
Samsung is expected to continue using its award-winning curved display technology, albeit only in the larger of the two Galaxy smartphones.
It is believed the Galaxy S7 will ship in 5.2inch and 5.8inch models, with only the 5.8inch model getting the curved Edge treatment.
