Legacy iPhone behavior
3D Touch
Most people call this the pressure sensitive screen on older iPhones.
3D Touch sensed how hard you pressed the screen and was fitted only to the iPhone 6s through the iPhone XS generation, before being replaced by Haptic Touch.
The setting exists. Choose your iOS version to see the exact path.
What it does
It offered a peek at content with a light press and a full open with a harder one. Sensitivity was adjustable. Haptic Touch replaced it with a timed long press, which works on every model and needs no extra hardware.
What changes
When it is on
Pressure sensitive shortcuts become available on models that have the hardware.
When it is off
The screen responds only to touch duration.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- Faster previews than a timed long press on models that support it.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Accidental heavy presses trigger menus.
- It was removed from later models, so habits do not transfer.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: On for models that have it.
Questions people actually ask
- Does my iPhone have 3D Touch?
- Only the iPhone 6s through the iPhone XS generation. Everything since uses Haptic Touch, which is a timed long press.
If it is not working
- If your iPhone is newer than the XS generation, use Haptic Touch instead.
- Sensitivity is adjustable on models that have it.
- Instructions saying press firmly usually mean touch and hold on modern models.