Instagram brings 3D Touch-style ‘peek’ feature to its Android app

BY GreenBot Staff

Published 8 Dec 2015

Instagram has developed a clever workaround to the lack of pressure-sensitive screens on Android.

The newest update ports over a nearly identical feature from the iOS app’s use of 3D Touch. en you long press a thumbnail image (you’ll see this layout when searching or viewing someone’s profile) a nearly full-size expansion of the photo will appear.

ong with the report from 9to5, several others say the feature is now live in version 7.13. However, we tried it on two different phones with different accounts were unable to get it to work. Instagram hasn’t officially announced this new capability, so there could be some type of A/B testing going on. 

If you want to try it for yourself see what happens, look for the update in the ay Store or grab the latest version from A Mirror. ’ll let you know if there is some type of wider rollout announced.

y this matters: Apple’s 3D Touch has already gained significant developer support, with many apps using the “peek pop” feature for quick previews. ile Huawei was technically first to bring a Force touch feature to market, it’s the ubiquity of the ione that made made pressure-sensitive displays the next arena that developers will be able to explore.