Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has repeated his claim that iPhone 15 Pro models will be equipped with solid-state volume and power buttons. Kuo also said that other high-end devices could follow suit in the future if the change is well received.
Kuo had previously said the volume and power buttons on next year’s two high-end iPhone models may adopt a solid-state design, similar to the iPhone 7’s home button. The new solid-state buttons would replace the current mechanical button design. The new buttons would likely use a method similar to Apple’s Mac trackpads, which mimic the physical feeling of being pressed with small vibrations.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Kuo noted that Cirrus Logic would be “the primary winner” as the supplier of Taptic Engine chips for iPhones.
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Cirrus Logic is the primary winner for canceling physical buttons and the change to adopt solid-state buttons on the 2H23 high-end iPhone 15 models. https://t.co/CNfZOYwRXn— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 11, 2023
Kuo believes the new iPhones will reportedly increase the number of Taptic Engines in each iPhone from one to three, adding them on the internal left and right sides to provide feedback to users, making it seem as though they are pressing physical buttons.
Solid-state buttons on iPhones could lead to better water resistance while eliminating moving parts that can wear out or break over time. The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are still expected to continue to use mechanical buttons.
