iPhone 16 Pro Now Has 'Low' Chance of Featuring Solid-State Buttons

[t0rqx]

In theory, solid state buttons would last longer than physical switches. OTOH, the type of switches Apple uses are rated for something like 1 million keypresses they wouldn't likely fail. (200 presses a day x 365 x 3 years = 220,000 presses). But there may be assembly issues that make the SS buttons a better choice.

It does not matter id they remotely kill the phone with dirty upgrades that make the phone obsolete after two years.

 

[kaycrystal626]

Nah, I will wait for iPhone 18 Ultra Pro MAX!

 

[ddhhddhh2]

Got it, now it's time to talk about the iPhone 16.

 

[Octavius8]

I will Have to configure the new magic button AND look at the screen every time I want to change in and out of “mute”. What an absurd way to make a simple function more complex and attention requiring.
Android, you seem less and less un-attractive every day… this is an undesired feature and an active element of deciding to do NOT “upgrade” my 14PM.

 

[Powerguru]

What is this obsession about solid state buttons ?

 

[Powerguru]

Best news I've heard all day.

That means you are not following CNN and MSNBC.

 

[Djones96]

15 not even released yet, lets talk about the 16!

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Why are we not talking about the iPhone 20 yet?!?!

This. Somebody needs to tell me, with the 15 not out yet, why are these iPhone 16 "leaks" relevant and/or necessary. Be kind...I'm feeling kind of vulnerable...

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

Stale and old news. Can we get on with the 17 already?!?! 🙄

 

[coffeemilktea]

I really missed these rumors about the volume buttons. Are they going to be solid-state? Are they going to be capacitative touch? Are we just going to keep the same volume buttons we've always had? The suspense is killing me... I'm so glad MacRumors is here to report the latest information, I don't know what I'd do with myself otherwise.

 

[gaximus]

I’ve had iPhones since the very first one and never had a single button break. I realize some people here might be unlucky having things break on them, but I don’t think buttons breaking is nearly a big enough issue to redesign for.

Same here, I’ve had every iPhone iteration. And never had a button issue. I think the solid state buttons are more for water proofing than button reliability. I litterly just lost my iPhone 14 pro do to water damage, took it down a water slide, glad I had apple care +. I also took it snorkeling without a problem and got some amazing underwater video, but a water slide was too much

 

[Premium1]

It needs to go away and I just saw in person the one on the MBA and it’s more annoying then the one on the phone. 🙄

Thats because the MBA one is a notch the island is not.

 

[Ch3ckM4te]

I would be happy if Apple just releases iPhone Ultra Edition in 2024.

View attachment 2228889

Yes, please! Looks like a beast. Love it.

 

[k1121j]

I think its technically a notch on a MBA and not an island but would using a darker wallpaper coupled with the menu bar make it kind of disappear?

No idea i was kind of taken back and think ill hold off on buying one for now

 

[Saturn007]

And do you still remember the old cars that had physical buttons instead of screens? I loved those.

Recent, better designed cars still have buttons for key functions — and even knobs for volume, tuning, and other controls. That along with an infotainment screen.

So, it's not a question of “remembering” “old cars”, but enjoying our current ones!

 

[Crowbot]

It does not matter id they remotely kill the phone with dirty upgrades that make the phone obsolete after two years.

Not really pertinent to the subject but...OK. I've never had that experience myself and I've had iPhones since v1.

 

[4odomi]

There is now a "low" chance that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with solid-state volume and mute buttons, according to Jeff Pu, a tech analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities. Pu shared this prediction in a research note today alongside some details about the more imminent iPhone 15 lineup.

Solid-state buttons were initially rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models, but Apple reportedly faced "unresolved technical issues before mass production" and had to revert to mechanical buttons. Pu previously said the solid-state buttons would be postponed until iPhone 16 Pro models, but he now believes even those devices are unlikely to have them.

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic hinted at the solid-state buttons in a shareholder letter last year, but seemingly confirmed the plans were scrapped in May.

With a solid-state design, the buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro would not have moved when pressed. Instead, it was rumored that two additional Taptic Engines inside the iPhone would have provided haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of movement, similar to the Home button introduced with the iPhone 7 and the Force Touch trackpad on newer MacBooks.

iPhone 15 Pro models are still expected to feature a mechanical Action button in place of the Ring/Silent switch. It is likely that users will be able to assign the button to various system functions, such as Ring/Silent or Do Not Disturb.

With solid-state buttons now considered unlikely through 2024, it remains to be seen if Apple will ever move away from mechanical buttons on the iPhone. A benefit of solid-state buttons would be fewer moving parts that can break, and there is also potential for improved water resistance given there would be fewer points of ingress.

iPhone 16 Pro models are still over a year away from launching, so Apple's plans for the devices remain subject to change.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro Now Has 'Low' Chance of Featuring Solid-State Buttons

It's not something I would upgrade for, so meh 😊

 

[4odomi]

People want their iPhones to be of the highest quality. Moving over to solid state buttons would be a HUGE drop in quality. I'll be upgrading from my XS to the 15 this year. I'm hoping that by the time I have to upgrade again, Apple will either still have the physical buttons, or the solid state buttons will increase in quality enough to be infinity times better than the home button on the 7.

Not fussed about them either way, however never found the home button on my 7 to be a problem for 4 years whilst I had it, never broke once either 😊

 

[4odomi]

Pray, tell, what’s the feature that literally everybody is asking for?

This is a mature market.

Eliminate Flares from night mode photos & videos, stop over exposing photo's, get rid of the charging cables, make the camera bump smaller & the phone lighter, make a Mini the size of 11 pro and with pro materials, put the telescope lens in both pro's, ie don't differentiate them to force more people to buy the Max Brick, bring back the iconic notch.....just a few I would like to see, over the solid state buttons😊

 

[4odomi]

Unless you can use the device under water.

A tiny niche, however to do that they would also need to get rid of the charging port, so what would be the point of just the buttons?

 

[4odomi]

Ever tried to use a touchscreen under water?

No, however you wouldn't need to with solid state buttons 😊

 

[Hopefully Smarter]

Stop writing Stupid articles that make no sense in the real world. Capacitive buttons do not fit the use case.

Stop printing every BS pronouncement. Use your head. You are failing as journalists.

 

[19callum93]

A 3 Trillion Dollar company can’t work this out? 🤔

 

[4odomi]

I will Have to configure the new magic button AND look at the screen every time I want to change in and out of “mute”. What an absurd way to make a simple function more complex and attention requiring.
Android, you seem less and less un-attractive every day… this is an undesired feature and an active element of deciding to do NOT “upgrade” my 14PM.

I'm sure it won't be as taxing as u seem to imagine 😊
As to Android, good luck with that, it's called consumer choice 😊

 

[Carolwins]

So it’s rumored to be on the 15 but not the 16? Makes zero sense