Apple Working on Haptic Buttons for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

Apple is actively exploring stolid-state buttons with haptic feedback, not just for the iPhone, but also for future iPad and Apple Watch models, claims a rumor out of China.

Back in 2022, several reports suggested that Apple intended to bring solid-state buttons to the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023 as part of "Project Bongo." Solid-state haptic buttons reduce mechanical wear, while enabling users to differentiate between a light press and a firm press to trigger different functions. However, the plan was reportedly canceled at a late stage. They were then rumored to come to the iPhone 16 Pro, before being shelved indefinitely.

Or that's what was believed at the time. It appears that Apple never fully dropped the idea, if Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital is correct. Last month, the leaker claimed Apple was still investigating haptic buttons for a future iPhone. And today the account has doubled down on the claim, saying the project is not just active for the iPhone, but for Apple's "entire product line," including iPad and Apple Watch.

Instant Digital says it isn't the production cost that has held the project back, but rather the issue of "mistouches," since an accurate response from the buttons isn't always guaranteed. The current button design is said to be integrated directly into the frame, with no rebound when clicked, but the company is apparently seeking to more closely replicate the experience of a traditional mechanical button.

The project was believed to be on hold while Apple prioritized display and battery technology advancements for upcoming models. While the feature is still not expected to arrive in the iPhone 17 lineup, Project Bongo has indeed "restarted" at the company, according to Instant Digital.

Article Link: Apple Working on Haptic Buttons for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

 

[ipedro]

There's "reduced mechanical wear" on the button but it's just transferred to the haptic engine which is itself mechanical. What is gained really?

 

[nihilisticmonk]

Apple is actively exploring stolid-state buttons with haptic feedback

What's a "stolid state button" ?

 

[Zzzoom]

That is what is so great about ordinary buttons: they are already haptic. 🙄

 

[Criss P.]

The camera button on the IP16 is haptic, the initial rumors were right. I guess the leakers confused the schematics with the power button considering It very similar in shape and form. RUMORS are not fact.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Tim, Assuming they will be impassively dependable, shouldn’t that be “stolid solid-state“?

 

[wanha]

What's a "stolid state button" ?

a solid state button looks like a button and feels like a button but is not actually a button, it's just pretending to be one

 

[wanha]

for a company that has probably made the best buttons in the history of electronics, it's a bummer that they're eschewing them completely

 

[wanha]

There's "reduced mechanical wear" on the button but it's just transferred to the haptic engine which is itself mechanical. What is gained really?

great point. my guess is that it's probably much easier to protect the haptic engine from dirt, moisture, and grease than you can a physical button that is direct contact with the sloppy, sticky, sweaty outside world

 

[cicalinarrot]

"That's what I wanted", said nobody.

 

[Belisama]

I got many iPhones since 3GS.
I NEVER had a problem with buttons.
And by the way, all of them are already "stolid-state", even solid-state...
Apple likes spending a lot of time and resources to reinvent the wheel... I'm just wondering if all of this is not just a smokescreen to hide the lack of actual innovation.

 

[stevemiller]

for a company that has probably made the best buttons in the history of electronics, it's a bummer that they're eschewing them completely

my butterfly keyboard wants a word.

 

[TechWhisperer]

This will never work because of mistouches. What if you grab your phone and switch hands real fast. It’s a stupid idea. The current buttons work perfectly fine. This is typical Apple working on stuff no one asked for.

 

[MRSugarD]

Please no. Don‘t create a new problem where it‘s absolutely not necessary. The current buttons are completely fine and work flawlessly.

 

[Tig_one]

Reminds me of https://www.motor1.com/news/761055/vw-ev-buyers-europe-want-buttons/

For many use cases physical buttons are still king.

 

[Le0M]

I just hope it doesn't require for the skin to touch the button surface to make it click. THAT would be a huge bummer.

 

[Fuzzball84]

So the argument is to reduce mechanical wear and tear, and ingress

Then they release a foldable 😂

 

[Le0M]

This will never work because of mistouches. What if you grab your phone and switch hands real fast. It’s a stupid idea. The current buttons work perfectly fine. This is typical Apple working on stuff no one asked for.

These buttons will require a certain pressure to be applied for the button to "click". It's no touch screen.

 

[klasma]

Instant Digital says it isn't the production cost that has held the project back, but rather the issue of "mistouches," since an accurate response from the buttons isn't always guaranteed.

These can never be as accurate as physical buttons, because they lack the mechanical feedback that lets the finger learn to anticipate the trigger point. It's frustrating how Apple is going down such misguided paths.

 

[Hajj.david]

These buttons will require a certain pressure to be applied for the button to "click". It's no touch screen.

What happens when the OS freezes. Oops good luck shutting off your phone

 

[cicalinarrot]

There's "reduced mechanical wear" on the button but it's just transferred to the haptic engine which is itself mechanical. What is gained really?

Absolutely nothing.
I've repaired iPhones for years and I cannot recall a single case of volume buttons damage due to regular use.
This is just overengineering and making things "very future" for the sake of it.
I guess it will help Apple make their phones feel more exclusive and different because nobody else would waste money to engineer something just as useless.

 

[iamgalt]

Apple, please don't do this. The haptic home button on the iPhone 7 was an absolute disaster. Why would you want to spread that to all the buttons on the phone, that work perfectly fine as they are?

 

[UliBaer]

What's a "stolid state button" ?

Effectively a button without moving parts. It is like SSD (solid state disk), which is a "disk" without moving parts.

 

[adrianlondon]

For those of you who already have phones with a "haptic" button ... do they work just as well as a real button with gloves on, or wet hands?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Is this really a problem that needs addressing?

I've never had issues with any buttons on my iOS devices.