Instagram brings back 3D Touch feature for Android

Instagram's popular 3D Touch feature for photos on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus has finally found its way into Android, after a brief suspension on account of technical issues. The feature functions similar to Force Touch in the newest iPhones but has a few more levels of pressure sensitivity.

The 3D Touch function enables quicker access to menu options and frequently-performed actions. It requires fewer taps, as if it is a glorified long press or right click, reports Android Police. It might be safe to say this feature has fully evolved into a three-dimensional (3D) entity, from a regular 2D touchscreen. 3D Touch brings in an extra element of detail whenever you hard press on an image or object while previewing it.

Strangely, Instagram decided to remove the 3D Touch feature from iOS after a brief trial of two months and later ported it to Android, realising that the feature works fine without the need for force-sensitive touchscreens.

Instead of viewing an image in its original form, it is now possible with Instagram to zoom into a specific portion by long pressing on the image thumbnail. Conversely, just drag your finger away from the center of the photo to shrink it down to thumbnail size.

Besides, one can share or like an image by simply placing a finger over the buttons under the image, without actually lifting the finger. Users can also experience a unique haptic feedback from the screen when they hover their finger over one of the buttons.

Curious Instagram users on Android can download the latest version (7.13.0) of the app from the APK mirror to experience 3D Touch.