Sources have indicated that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro will feature redesigned volume buttons that use solid-state technology to provide haptic feedback, much like the Home Button that was introduced with the iPhone 7. However, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong Tech, there is some uncertainty about whether the new phone will actually have these buttons.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also confirmed the report, stating that due to unresolved technical problems prior to mass production, the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will not have solid-state buttons.
In October, Kuo announced that the iPhone 15 Pro would have solid-state buttons. He claimed that two extra Taptic Engines inside the iPhone would simulate button presses with haptic feedback without physically moving the buttons. This technology is similar to the Home button on the iPhone 7 or the Force Touch trackpad on newer MacBooks. However, in a Medium post today, Kuo stated that the devices will have physical buttons after all, as there are still technical issues that need to be resolved before mass production.
Kuo’s recent survey suggests that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max won’t feature solid-state buttons due to unresolved technical issues before mass production. Instead, Apple will reportedly return to the traditional physical button design. The details on whether the phones will feature two separate volume buttons or a single elongated button remain unknown at this time.
According to Kuo, the iPhone 15 Pro is still in the EVT (Engineering Validation Test) stage, which means that there is still time for Apple to modify its design. He also stated that reverting to the traditional physical button design would have a limited impact on the production schedule and shipments of the Pro models.
Sources familiar with Apple’s supply chain have informed analyst Jeff Pu that the company might revert to the classic volume button design on the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro due to the complex design of the new buttons. The analyst reports that the new solid-state buttons would need three additional haptic engines inside the phone to function.
The iPhone 15 Pro renders that were released recently also offer a glimpse of the potential new design for the solid-state buttons. Apple’s decision to abandon the solid-state volume button design in the iPhone 15 Pro models could result in the feature being delayed until the 2024 iPhone models. This would provide Apple with more time to overcome the technical challenges involved in producing the necessary parts. These developments are unexpected and contradict earlier rumors and the general market consensus surrounding the new volume buttons.
It is currently uncertain if the redesign of the mute button on the iPhone 15 Pro will be impacted by the reported changes to the volume button design. There have been no official statements from Apple regarding any alterations to the mute button or any other aspects of the device’s design.