I got caught in the rain twice last week. That probably says more about my general lack of preparation than anything else, of course, but I was reminded twice how difficult it is to try to use a wet touchscreen.
I wouldn’t say this is the biggest single issue facing smartphones today, but at a time when device manufacturers seem to be focused on more than just spec races and unusual form factors, it’s good to see a company dealing with a real usability issue.
OnePlus introduced “Rain Water Touch,” a feature designed to make wet touchscreens more usable. 9to5 Google saw the news, which debuted on the hardware’s Weibo channel.
Image Credits: OnePlus
The video shows a OnePlus device going head-to-head with the iPhone 14 Pro, while mercilessly bombarded with artificial rain and fog. It should help with recently washed or extra sweaty hands, as well.
OnePlus says that the system uses a combination of silicon and a custom algorithm to determine the placement of the finger and work on water issues, which conduct electrical signals, like the human hand.
The feature is set to debut on the Ace 2 Pro, which will be officially unveiled in China later this week. It is believed that the feature will be added to other upcoming releases by OnePlus, as well as those from its parent brand, Oppo.
