Apple got the distinction of being the first to produce a smartphone with Force Touch capabilities. Now, some handset makers are scrambling to be among the first crop of brands to introduce Force Touch-enabled devices to the mobile market.
Recent reports said that Sony is looking to make the Xperia Z6 have a Force Touch feature. Mobipicker cited a source "who claims to be closely associated with the distribution network of Sony Mobile Communications" as saying that the upcoming model may have a pressure-sensitive screen, which lets users "perform various quick actions or access quick functions by applying different amount of pressure on the touchscreen."
"Given the trend and demand for this new feature, this can be a great revival move for Sony, which has been facing significant losses in the smartphone market this year," the site added.
Mobipicker, however, said that although the source of the leak cannot be trusted 100%, the move to a pressure-sensitive display appears to be a logical move, especially considering it has been rumored other competing brands may introduce devices with such a feature soon.
Huawei had already released a Force Touch smartphone, the Mate S, and may be planning to issue other models having such a feature. However, the Chinese company is said to be still "working out how best to implement new touch features," according to Android Central's review. This can be regarded by tech giants like Samsung and Sony as a sort of loophole that it can take advantage of by releasing smartphones with better incorporation of Force Touch features.
"Regarding the display resolution, it is is highly possible that the Xperia Z6 will carry a 2K (QHD) screen," Mobipicker said. "The phone is expected to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC."
With all the fuss about Force Touch, some pundits have taken to analyzing the necessity of the said feature. Some have been positive, while others have given pessimistic views about the technology.
"The opportunities presented by Force Touch tech are exciting," Android Pit's Scott Adam Gordon opined. "Though there will likely be a slew of awkward and unnecessary/gimmicky ways in which Force Touch will be implemented, I predict it will be simple changes - such as navigation and content retrieval - that will make smartphones even more comfortable and easy to use."
"And once this functionality lands, I think we'll wonder how we ever lived without it," he concluded.
Others, like Adam Outler, said that Force Touch is not exactly useful, as quoted by Pocket Now.
"It just adds a level of complexity to a user experience," he pointed out.
"It's a nice thing to have, but certainly not necessary," XDA Developers' Mario Tomás Serrafero affirmed.
What do you think about Force Touch?
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