Apple Supplier Potentially Hints at iPhone 15 Pro With Solid-State Volume and Power Buttons

[MacRumors]

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic may have vaguely hinted at iPhone 15 Pro models getting haptic buttons next year, according to research firm Barclays.

In a letter to shareholders this month, the Texas-based semiconductor company said it continues to "engage with a strategic customer" and expects to "bring a new HPMS component to market in smartphones next year." HPMS refers to Cirrus Logic's high-performance mixed-signal chips, which includes haptic drivers for the Taptic Engine in iPhones.

On an earnings call with analysts this month, Cirrus Logic CEO John Forsyth narrowed down the timeframe for this new component coming to market to the "back half of next year," which would line up with iPhone 15 Pro models launching next September.

In an investor note last week, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O'Malley said the new component that Cirrus Logic mentioned will most likely be part of additional Taptic Engines for the haptic buttons on iPhone 15 Pro models:

The biggest change to our thinking here is to model $1 of new content in the IP15 Pro models. To be clear, the company hasn't said much here other than that the chip is mixed signal and not in the power domain. When looking at potential use cases, the largest change in new iPhone models next year is the removal of the buttons, which would require additional drivers for the haptics engine, making it the most likely use case for new content.

In October, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPhone 15 Pro models will feature solid-state volume and power buttons. Kuo said the devices will be equipped with two additional Taptic Engines that provide haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of pressing the buttons, without them physically moving, similar to the Home button on recent iPhone SE models or the Force Touch trackpad on newer MacBooks.

Haptic buttons on iPhones could allow for even better water resistance and would eliminate moving parts that can wear out or break over time. However, the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are still expected to have mechanical buttons.

Article Link: Apple Supplier Potentially Hints at iPhone 15 Pro With Solid-State Volume and Power Buttons

 

[aloshka]

Isn't that going to use more space internally to have a full haptic engine vs small buttons. I do like the idea of not having them as things somethings get in there and the buttons don't press as well. And I'm guessing better waterproofing comes as a benefit too.

 

[antiprotest]

I want the iPhone to be completely sealed and waterproof so I can wash it like a piece of lettuce.

 

[haunebu]

I like keyboards and buttons that actually click.

 

[aloshka]

I want the iPhone to be completely sealed and waterproof so I can wash it like a piece of lettuce.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but phones are worse than toilet seats when it comes to hygiene.

 

[vtuberalpha]

Will be very interesting to see how this will play out with cases and gloves.

But I warmly welcome this change since this step is needed to make the iPhone fully solid-state. No moving parts, less failures and adjustable click feel.

 

[antiprotest]

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but phones are worse than toilet seats when it comes to hygiene.

I meant it actually and that's the reason. I wipe the iPhone with disinfectant frequently. But I'd like to wash it like I'd my Apple Watch. I know the phone is water resistant but as I understand it right now that's more for accidents than deliberate immersion. Rather than wiping it carefully whenever I come back home each day it would be more convenient to just put it right under the faucet and wash it with soap.

 

[Andres Cantu]

$1 part for Apple = $100 price increase for customers

I thought it was weird that Apple didn’t increase the iPhone price this year, but I would have to believe they will next year. Probably even more than $100 for the “Ultra” model.

 

[Dom.S]

Buttons are great. Leave them alone. Haptics instead of buttons are a solution to a problem that doesn’t need to exist.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

“..would eliminate moving parts that can wear out or break over time.”

Lol, I never had a power or volume button wear out from the very 1st iPhone I had to the 14 Pro I have now.

 

[vtuberalpha]

Buttons are great. Leave them alone. Haptics instead of buttons are a solution to a problem that doesn’t need to exist.

Would you rather have a moving or haptic home button?

 

[compwiz1202]

$1 part for Apple = $100 price increase for customers

I thought it was weird that Apple didn’t increase the iPhone price this year, but I would have to believe they will next year. Probably even more than $100 for the “Ultra” model.

If those parts are cheaper than mechanical, they won't need to raise prices but will still make more profit.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I want the iPhone to be completely sealed and waterproof so I can wash it like a piece of lettuce.

They essentially claim that you can do that now, even show it in a commercial. No soap though. And water will still sit on top of the speaker. Not sure how they can ever get around that.

Just saw your followup post, the IP67 rating should mean that you can fully submerge it no problem, and definitely can put it under slowly running water.

Soap is a problem though. Washes off the oleophobic coating and can leave residue.

 

[Sciomar]

Solid state and portless is the way to go!

 

[CarAnalogy]

Would you rather have a moving or haptic home button?

Haptic home button is a clear win. Power and volume buttons are a bit more subtle, might have to wait and see how this works out.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

Reminds me of new cars with solid-state buttons, terrible decision, some cars brands even reversed the decision

 

[antiprotest]

They essentially claim that you can do that now, even show it in a commercial. No soap though. And water will still sit on top of the speaker. Not sure how they can ever get around that.

Right now the Apple Watch farts the water out. I wonder if they can either do that for the phone, or have no opening for speakers and conduct sound through the solid case and still make them work and sound good.

 

[california_kid]

Sounds ok to me. I mean it took me a year to find out that my MacBook Pro trackpad doesn't actually depress.

 

[till]

I've seen macOS freezes which disable the haptic trackpad on a MBP, so my concern here is that there still needs to be a way to reboot a frozen iPhone without just waiting for the battery to die.

 

[sw1tcher]

Isn't that going to use more space internally to have a full haptic engine vs small buttons.

There will be plenty of usable space when you remove the plastic spacer sitting where the SIM tray used to be.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Right now the Apple Watch farts the water out. I wonder if they can either do that for the phone, or have no opening for speakers and conduct sound through the solid case and still make them work and sound good.

I always just blow it out with a little compressed air, but yeah this would be a good feature. It might only work on really small speakers though.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Would you rather have a moving or haptic home button?

Moving. The haptic home button just felt off.

 

[CarAnalogy]

There will be plenty of usable space when you remove the plastic spacer sitting where the SIM tray used to be.

Or they could just use it for a damn sim tray. This is my biggest problem with the 14s. And it’s extra galling they only inflicted it on the US. Makes me think they will do more country specific changes in the future, and not to anyone’s benefit but Apple’s.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Would you rather have a moving or haptic home button?

Both. Make it like the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch. ✌🏼

 

[1557750]

I have nothing solid in my life.

Why start now?