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Force Touch expected to be showcase feature of next iPhone

That new Force Touch tech inside the Apple Watch is coming to the next iPhone says one analyst. That's good: It would add more menu options without cluttering the display.
Written by Kevin Tofel, Contributor

Apple's Force Touch technology, currently available on the Apple Watch and new MacBook laptop, will find its way to the next iPhone later this year. That's according to KGI Securities analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, who has an above average record at predicting Apple's next moves.

AppleInsider reviewed Kuo's report on Tuesday, sharing his expectations on what this year's iPhone model will have inside. When pressing a Force Touch display with greater pressure than a simple tap or touch, the iPhone could show additional menu options to the user. It works quite well on the Apple Watch where screen space is limited.

See also: Four improvements I'd like to see on the Apple Watch | Apple Watch Sport review: Apple sets high bar for smartwatches on first attempt

I could see the same benefit on a phone as well: Fewer on-screen buttons that clutter up the interface. Additional options only appear when you need them and you press harder on the display.

Apple may be taking another design cue from its Apple Watch, Kuo says. He anticipates a rose gold, luxury edition of the next iPhone that will carry a premium price.

Other expectations from Kuo include a camera sensor upgrade -- 12 megapixels, Kuo says -- another microphone, a new Apple chip (that's not much of a surprise), and the first iPhone to have 2 GB of memory. Kuo doesn't expect any change in the size of the next iPhones as he's looking for both a 4.7- and a 5.5-inch model.

Apple typically updates its lucrative iPhone line in the fall, so we should know in about four months if Kuo's predictions are accurate.

The addition of a Force Touch display is the one I'd most likely bet on out of the bunch. Not only is it useful, it's something that no competing handset yet offers. And it's an elegant way to add more menu options to a display without increasing the screen size.

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