Rumors mill claim that Apple is going to replace physical volume and power buttons with solid-state buttons which would provide haptic feedback like the Home button in iPhone 7 and the Force Touch trackpad on the latest MacBook models. However, there is great confusion about the launch time redesigned volume buttons.
Now, Tech analysts Jeff Pu and Shelly Chou from Haitong International Securities investment firm report that Apple will equip iPhone 16 Pro models with the new solid-state volume and power buttons coming out in 2024, not the iPhone 15 Pro models launching later this year.
[Update: Mark Gurman from Bloomberg corroborated the previous claim in his latest newsletter, ‘Power On’, and said that Apple will now use the solid-state haptic volume button in iPhone 16 Pro models next year.
He explained that although iPhone 15 Pro models currently in testing feature the redesigned volume buttons, Apple is “likely” going to debut it next year in iPhone 16 Pro models. The cost and complexity of the new haptic volume buttons are the reasons for the delay.
Recently, an Apple supply chain partner, Cirrus Logic told shareholders that its HPMS would not be used in smartphones this year as planned. As HPMS components are high-performance mixed-signal chips that feature haptic drivers for iPhone’s Taptic Engine, it was speculated that the manufacturer was referring to the cancellation of the solid-state haptic volume buttons in iPhone 15 Pro.]
Due to “design issues”, solid-state buttons to debut in iPhone 16 Pro, not iPhone 15 Pro models
Previously, TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the new iPhone 15 Pro models would be equipped with two additional Taptic Engines to power the new solid-state buttons with Haptic feedback instead of traditional volume and power buttons.
He also claimed that customers’ reaction to the modification would determine whether Apple would expand the feature to more devices in the future.
Recently, he retracted his claim. Based on the latest market survey, he detailed that Apple was facing “unresolved technical issues before mass production”. He added that both iPhone 15 Pro models would use traditional physical buttons but the volume button might feature a new unified design instead of two separate buttons.
Corroborating the delay due to design issues, Pu and Chou say that iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature solid-state buttons as iPhone 15 Pro models will not be equipped with two additional Taptic Engines.
However, Apple leaker @analyst941 refuted Kuo and said that upcoming Pro models would feature haptic volume, power, and action buttons. This source accurately reported on iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island.
Note: iPhone 15 Pro models are still by far on track to receive capacitive/haptic volume, “action”, and power buttons — contrary to recent contradicting rumors.
— 941 (@analyst941) April 12, 2023
At the moment, there are conflicting reports on the launch of solid-state buttons in 2023 or 2024.
Reportedly, iPhone 16 Pro models are also expected to feature under-display Face ID, Apple’s custom 5G modem, periscope camera lens, and a higher-end model than Pro and Pro Max models.
Read More:
