The iPhone's Touch Screen Accuracy is 'Extremely Bad' Near the Edges [Report]

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Posted October 25, 2013 at 5:58pm by Shalom Levytam

A study by OptoFidelity has found a significant lack of touch screen accuracy with Apple's iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c displays. The company used its Touch Panel Performance Test to compare the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphones.

OptoFidelity Touch & Test is a test platform for touch device testing. PDT stands for panel performance device level testing. OptoFidelity Touch & Test measures the touch panel accuracy. This tester includes a robot with an artificial finger. The tester compares the coordinates of robot to the coordinates captured from the touch device

The company tapped each phone across the screen and compared the actual touch position with the reported coordinates. The PASS/FAIL limit for their accuracy test was ±1 mm. A green point indicates pass and red one indicates fail.

The iPhone's Touch Screen Accuracy is 'Extremely Bad' Near the Edges [Report]

"Results were highly surprising. According to the results, iPhone’s touch performance is extremely bad near the edges and there is also a different offset on the top of the screen compared to the lower part of the screen."

OptoFidelity says the touch accuracy is much better in the Galaxy S3 which will result in less typing errors. For example, on the iPhone, the keyboard letters Q, O, and P are on areas which failed the accuracy test.

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You can find more details in the full report linked below. Let us know what you think in the comments. Have you had any issues with the iPhone's touchscreen accuracy?

Read More [via AppleInsider]

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Russ - February 9, 2016 at 3:28am

You are correct, it is terribly inaccurate and I will switch to Samsung as soon as my payments are finished.

Nona - October 28, 2013 at 2:30pm

Isn't the iOS ignoring the accidental touches near edges, while grabbing the device?

Joey d - October 28, 2013 at 4:22am

I actually do notice bad sensitivity near the top left corner, on my 5S

Darkster - October 27, 2013 at 9:15pm

It's probably a Samsung robot! I don't notice any difference with typing between my 4s and my 5s.

muffy puffin - October 27, 2013 at 10:48am

A accuracy limit of +/-1mm is ridiculous.Human finger is much bigger, so 1mm does not make a difference which actually effects humans in real life.

ichyowie - October 26, 2013 at 8:43pm

read this article on iphone 5, tried hitting the back button in the lower left corner and instead my phone selected a comment. this study is too truuu

Eddo - October 26, 2013 at 4:47pm

Yikes maybe I'm too human. Please pardon the typos.

Bugged Out - October 26, 2013 at 3:00pm

I noticed my iPhone 5 is less accurate than my prior iPhone 4.

sidewinder - October 26, 2013 at 2:23pm

Hmmm. I've actually noticed this in my own 5S. Typing on the keyboard pisses me off more frequently than it used to and I find it harder to highlight words quickly and precisely. This is true. & I'm not an apple basher; I've not owned a non-iPhone since the original came out. Now that this is out I hope they do something about it.

Johnny Cage - October 26, 2013 at 2:12pm

This is not correct... My 5s is just as sensitive as all my other iPhones. Everyone that has owned an Android knows you can't compare.

Vanja - October 26, 2013 at 2:11pm

Hummm, another Samsung "sponsored" company? Anyone who used an iPhone and any Android device knows iPhone (even the "2G", classic iPhone) is far superior in touch.

blackberryman - October 26, 2013 at 1:49pm

Galaxy touch function weakens after a while and i never have had this experience since my very first iphone. Have tried SG S4 and its now good enough.

Sharon Nathaniel - October 26, 2013 at 12:57pm

I don't know why every other person on earth is trying to prove that Apple is crap.

Andhu - October 26, 2013 at 5:22am

I use both IPhone (1st choice) & Samsung (I have to use it as a technician). Typing tells us how accurate is the touch.. I've never made a mistake while typing on my iPhone unlike Samsung.. THIS IS A BIG FAKE. iPhone touch is more accurate then anything ever build..

thevmax - October 26, 2013 at 9:27am

https://www.iclarified.com/35146/samsung-fined-340000-for-paying-for-negative-htc-reviews

Great - October 26, 2013 at 1:00am

Guys, it's so simple! The robot isn't touching it properly!

matrixmaniac - October 26, 2013 at 8:41am

Yeah, makes perfect sense: The robot touches it perfectly for a ROBOT, so it works best on ANDROID... So, all robots buy Sumsung... I'm human though... I'll stay with iPhone....

tommyy - October 26, 2013 at 12:29am

This test is inaccurate. iPhone touch panel is designed for Human finger only. Not robotic One. That is reason for those errors. Galaxy s3 works with stylus so robot touches each tiny spot is fine.

Nuck Chorris - October 26, 2013 at 1:13am

Thanks for the misinformation but the GS3 doesn't use a stylus the Note series do. Nice try.

Guest - October 26, 2013 at 4:01am

He said "works" with a stylus. He very well knows S3 doesn't have a stylus.

Dan - October 25, 2013 at 11:51pm

I do repairs on both the iPhone and the android phones and the biggest complain I get regarding the android smartphones is the lag in the screen

Analyzer - October 25, 2013 at 11:35pm

i knew this article will be filled with Apple fanboys trying to defend iPhones from the research. Take a look at the testing environment whoever thinks this test was poorly handled.

iClarifiedUser - October 25, 2013 at 11:26pm

I respect everyone's comments. But in my personal experience I've never had issues with my iPhones. I have helped customer with their androids and they have a lot of inaccurate response to the finger, it could be the OS as well. Either way I think this report is a scam.

Gio - October 25, 2013 at 10:50pm

That is so strange, I tired SamsungS3 and S IV and feel like that you are using one of the first generation touchscreen that where totally inaccurate.

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