iPhone 15 Pro Low-Energy Chip to Allow Solid-State Buttons to Work When Device is Off or Out of Battery

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use a new ultra-low energy microprocessor allowing certain features like the new capacitive solid-state buttons to remain functional even when the handset is powered off or the battery has run out, according to a source that shared details on the MacRumors forums.

CAD-based render of new solid-state buttons on iPhone 15 Pro models​

The source of this rumor is the same forum member that shared accurate details about the Dynamic Island last year before the iPhone 14 Pro was officially launched, so there is good reason to believe that the following information is reliable.

According to the anonymous source, the new microprocessor will replace Apple's current super-low energy mode that allows an iPhone to be located via Find My after it has been powered off or for up to 24 hours if its battery has been depleted, and enables Apple Pay Express Mode to be used for up to five hours after the battery has run out.

The new chip will allegedly take over these existing Bluetooth LE/Ultra Wideband functions in addition to powering the solid-state buttons – including an "action" button that replaces the mute switch – when the phone is on, off, or the battery is depleted. The microprocessor will "immediately sense capacitive button presses, holds, and even detect their own version of 3D Touch with the new volume up/down button, action button, and power button, while the phone is dead or powered down," says the tipster.

The source also claims that the new low-energy capacitive features are currently being tested with and without Taptic Engine feedback while powered off, but not while the battery is dead, however "whether this tidbit makes it to production or not is highly uncertain but IS being tested," they added.

The source claims that their "man inside" Apple has seen two functional versions of the rumored new unified volume button in testing, including one where the volume goes up/down faster depending on the amount of force used when pressed, and another where the volume can be adjusted by swiping up and down on the button with a finger. They do not know which method will be adopted for the final release, but these features are enabled by software, so this functionality may well be user-customizable.

The anonymous tipster claims that their inside source is on the Apple development team, so they do not have additional information about the design of the new models unless the physical features require software development to complement them.

As per previous rumors, solid-state capacitive buttons are expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models, with the standard iPhone 15 models retaining the same traditional button mechanism as on the iPhone 14 series. The iPhone 15 Pro is also rumored to be gaining a software-customizable button in lieu of the mute switch, with a unified volume button or "rocker" replacing the separate up/down volume buttons. For everything else we know about the new iPhone 15 series, check out our dedicated roundups using the links below.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Low-Energy Chip to Allow Solid-State Buttons to Work When Device is Off or Out of Battery

 

[Pezimak]

So they’ve replaced some buttons with touch controls and a micro processor and all the other functions and hardware required for all that, just to replace some buttons… and then they’ll apparently increase the price, just to replace some buttons oh and a switch…

Cant innovate anymore my a**…

I’m sure it’ll be a great device and perform very well, but this does seem a bit like change for the sake of change and to warrant you buying a new iPhone does it not?

 

[Kissmo1980]

How do you turn on your phone when:
1 - Phone is shutdown
2 - You are missing your cable
?

Is the power button is standard?


EDIT: Why do people disagree with asking questions? 😂 I am trying to understand how it would work.

 

[madebybela]

solutions in search of problems

 

[jlc1978]

The anonymous tipster claims that their inside source is on the Apple development team, so they do not have additional information about the design of the new models unless the physical features require software development to complement

Why would they reveal this and put their tipster at risk of discovery?

 

[MrCrowbar]

Home buttons did fail a lot in earlier iPhones (so people had to use that assistive touch thing because a new home button was pricey). Replacing the physical button with the taptic engine solved that and it also made trackpads on MacBooks infinitely better.

Honestly buttons on iPhones can feel cheap, especially on a $1000+ device. It sucks when they rattle, get a bit stuck from grime or the silent switch not having that satisfying click like on day 1.

 

[saltukkos]

If "action button" will be configurable to perform different actions (or run any shortcut in general), this would be a welcome update.

 

[ersan191]

Seems like they are running out of things to overengineer at this point.

 

[gpat]

Still looks like the best looking iPhone since the 4.

 

[adrianlondon]

"iPhone 16 to power every single function using new low-energy microprocessor".

"iPhone 16 never needs to be charged, ever!" says insider.

 

[krspkbl]

i'm more concerned about how this works with cases.

will case makes be able to make buttons that simulate a finger touch? i mean like know how you get those gloves you can wear to use your phone without taking your gloves off? maybe they can put a new material inside so that the button recognises the press?

i'll tell ya one thing, if i can't use a case with the new iPhone then i ain't buying an iPhone.

If "action button" will be configurable to perform different actions (or run any shortcut in general), this would be a welcome update.

i never use the mute switch so being able to change it to something useful would be cool.

 

[3530025]

It's a shame. I really want always on display, so I have to grab 15 Pro. But I would prefer classic tactile buttons from the non-Pro version. :/

What's the advantage of emulated buttons when it just brings more complexity to the whole device.

 

[ps3zocker]

With all this talk about the volume and mute button, what about the side button? Will this still be a real button?

 

[3530025]

Replacing the physical button with the taptic engine solved that and it also made trackpads on MacBooks infinitely better.

It's funny, because I feel exactly the opposite. I really miss the old trackpad without taptic engine, with real click. It definitely does not feel "infinitely" better to me.

 

[boak]

Got to make use of the space vacated by the removal of the SIM tray!

 

[gpat]

i'm more concerned about how this works with cases.

I suppose that most case will just have an open window in those spots. Easy solution.
The Apple official cases will have some kind of special solution that will make them cost x10 as much as the others.

 

[boak]

Cases will probably just have no lip near the volume slider

 

[MaaK]

Mark my words: volume up and down will be swipable - clicking hard on volume up will deactive mute and clicking hard on down will active mute.

 

[headlessmike]

It's not really any different than how the buttons work on today's devices. The physical power switch on an iPhone only sends a signal to the processor which then decides what to do, it does not disrupt the power to it or anything like that.

It's funny, because I feel exactly the opposite. I really miss the old trackpad without taptic engine, with real click. It definitely does not feel "infinitely" better to me.

The biggest improvement in my experience is that the tactility is equal over the entire surface of the trackpad. On older devices klickning closer to the keyboard was more difficult due to the proximity of the hinge.

 

[gmarm]

I wonder how swiping for volume would work with cases. They would all need to have a cutout of sorts.

 

[Vol Braakzakje]

The render of this phone looks soo good, maybe the best since the iPhone 4. I hope this will be the final design. My iPhone XS Max really needs an upgrade.

 

[3530025]

The biggest improvement in my experience is that the tactility is equal over the entire surface of the trackpad. On older devices klickning closer to the keyboard was more difficult due to the proximity of the hinge.

This is true. Yet I never have a need to click near the keyboard. When I'm using trackpad, I click with my thumb on the bottom of the trackpad. So this is non-issue for me. The old trackpad without haptic engine just felt better to me. It clicked more (when press at the bottom) I would say. And I really liked how I could simply feel trackpad to "drop" down physically.

 

[contacos]

i'm more concerned about how this works with cases.

will case makes be able to make buttons that simulate a finger touch? i mean like know how you get those gloves you can wear to use your phone without taking your gloves off? maybe they can put a new material inside so that the button recognises the press?

i'll tell ya one thing, if i can't use a case with the new iPhone then i ain't buying an iPhone.


i never use the mute switch so being able to change it to something useful would be cool.

I wish! But knowing Apple we will only get a limited option with little to no customisation options. Just look at the iPhone lockscreen. They finally did something with it but we still cannot replace or hide the damn flashlight and / or camera button!

 

[PineappleCake]

This is true. Yet I never have a need to click near the keyboard. When I'm using trackpad, I click with my thumb on the bottom of the trackpad. So this is non-issue for me. The old trackpad without haptic engine just felt better to me. It clicked more (when press at the bottom) I would say. And I really liked how I could simply feel trackpad to "drop" down physically.

For me at least, I much prefer the haptic trackpad, less prone to failing and more precise.

 

[Wanted797]

If "action button" will be configurable to perform different actions (or run any shortcut in general), this would be a welcome update.

Which could have been done in software alone.