iPhone 15 Pro will preserve the old button mechanisms on the body — Kuo
Some details about the future flagships from Apple revealed a new interesting feature of the iPhone 15 Pro — updated buttons on the body. It was not only about new shapes but also mechanical changes, where traditional buttons should be replaced by touch ones (such as the rejection of the mechanical Home button starting with iPhone 7). The first rumors about such an update appeared as early as last fall.
Such buttons, of course, should not move and “click” when pressed. At the same time, additional branded Taptic Engine vibration motors should simulate the feeling of pressing, which is perfectly implemented in old iPhone models (or the manufacturer’s laptop trackpads).
But according to new data from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is abandoning such a decision due to “unresolved technical issues before mass production”:
My latest survey indicates that due to unresolved technical issues before mass production, both high-end iPhone 15 Pro models (Pro & Pro Max) will abandon the closely-watched solid-state button design and revert to the traditional physical button design.
Same info was confirmed to MacRumors by technology analysts Jeff Pu and Shelly Chou at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities:
Based on our supply chain checks, we now expect iPhone 15 Pro series to move back to the current design of a physical button due to a more complex design.
In addition, they noted that Apple does not give up on the idea of updating the buttons, and they will be seen in the iPhone 16 Pro model next year. At the same time, the question of whether the shape of the volume control buttons in the iPhone 15 Pro will change if the current mechanism is retained remains unsolved.