Xiaomi to Use 3D Touch-Like Pressure-Sensitive Tech in Future Phones: Report

After Huawei and Apple, Xiaomi might be next in line to introduce 3D Touch-like pressure sensitive technology to its upcoming smartphone displays. It is the second company rumoured to bring 3D Touch-like technology to its smartphones after Samsung.

As per tipster Leaksfly on Weibo (via 9to5 Mac), the Chinese smartphone maker has patented 3D Touch-like technology, a patent that is similar to Samsung's. To recall, Samsung was earlier this month reported to been granted a patent for pressure sensitive touch technology by the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Samsung was separately tipped to be considering Synaptics' newly-unveiled ClearForce pressure-sensitive touch solution for future handsets, specifically, the Galaxy S7 flagship.

The rush by Android OEMs to pressure-sensitive touch technology can be considered a response to Apple's integration of 3D Touch to its new iPhone models. However, there is no denying that Huawei was the 'first' to debut the Force Touch pressure-sensitive touch technology on smartphones - with its Mate S smartphone at IFA.

Meanwhile, two leaked images of the unannounced Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Pro also surfaced the Web over the weekend. Besides the images shared by Mobile Dad website (via Phonearena), the handset is said to arrive in two variants. While one would house a fingerprint sensor on the back panel below the rear camera, the other variant would completely miss out on the particular feature. The Redmi Note 2 Pro is tipped to share the same specifications as the Redmi Note 2. The only difference would be an inclusion of a fingerprint sensor and a metal build.

For reference, the Redmi Note 2 features a 5.5-inch full-HD display, an octa-core MediaTek MT6795 SoC clocked at 2.2GHz clubbed with PowerVR G6200 GPU and 2GB RAM, a 13-megapixel rear camera, a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 3060mAh battery.