Android Police dug out an interesting string of code suggesting a new feature is coming to Google Pixel phones, called Adaptive Touch Sensitivity. Judging by the code itself, it may enable future and current Pixel phones to adjust the display’s touch sensitivity depending on environmental factors, activity or whether or not a screen protector is applied.
In fact, the Pixel 8 series can already detect a screen protector and once you apply one, the system prompts you to boost touch sensitivity. But it looks like Google is ready to expand on that feature, which is found in the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 software.
The string doesn’t make it entirely clear what the functionality would look like, but if’s probably safe to assume that the phone will look for changes in the environment. For example, it will boost sensitivity when it’s cold, so you can use the phone with your gloves on, or it will lower sensitivity on a rainy day to mitigate accidental touches due to the extra humidity or rain.
The line of code also mentions activity, but we are unsure what that means.
We also don’t know whether older Pixel phones will support it or only future ones, although since Android Police found the string on a Pixel 8 phone and it already supports automatic screen protector detection, the Pixel 8 series will likely get it.
