Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Models to Feature Solid-State Buttons and Three Taptic Engines

[bmustaf]

Don't you need "real" buttons to turn on or force restart the device? Otherwise some part of the software needs to always work/run.

For decades now, in most consumer electronics, ultra lower power microcontrollers always remain "on" (not saying this is a good thing, only that it is factually true). As these microcontrollers become more advanced, they can detect touches with incredibly small power draws.

There is really, in most modern consumer electronics, no such thing as truly "off".

 

[steve09090]

IP ratings are kind of bizarre. People need to see what those number mean, and why some are overblown.

Agreed. Maybe they are readying the market for Professional Driveway Cleaners! What a market if they can grab it. 😂

 

[bushman4]

Solid state buttons with haptics. Will these be protruding buttons or built into the body??
Big difference.

 

[ultraturducken]

Don't you need "real" buttons to turn on or force restart the device? Otherwise some part of the software needs to always work/run.

initiating charging always boots the phone. full battery depletion forces shutdown. could possibly facilitate latter with quick-drain, most likely via magsafe (a la whatever mechanisms govern “reverse charging”)

 

[anthorumor]

TouchBarButtons.

 

[dysamoria]

The magic track pad 2 that i have still seems to physically move, but that’s for physical feedback, not a button mechanism.

I’m not exactly keen on the home button on the iPhone SE3. If there’s not enough skin contact, it does nothing. This happens fairly often, especially if I don’t want to unlock it (just want to see the screen; yes, I could use the side button).

Also, with gloves on, it’s impossible to unlock, and that’s with gloves made for capacitive touch screens.

No, I don’t really want FaceID, but yes, here’s one use case where it would possibly be useful to me personally, if there’s some mechanism that triggers it even with these gloves on…

 

[bluespark]

It's only good for people who need a waterproof phone, which is a vast minority. I understand a certain level of water resistance for accidents, rain, etc, but there just aren't that many people who need to swim with their phone (and those that do can just get an appropriate case). This is such a small market segment that everyone else shouldn't be forced into a bad design for little benefit.

See my comment about mechanical buttons dying. Many never experience that, but I and many others have, and it won't happen with solid-state buttons.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

See my comment about mechanical buttons dying. Many never experience that, but I and many others have, and it won't happen with solid-state buttons.

Okay, but I have a treadmill that has 'virtual buttons, and they tend to trigger when my hand, or any warm thing, passes over them. Having the !!STOP!! activate in the middle of a good run is a shock for sure.

 

[bluespark]

Okay, but I have a treadmill that has 'virtual buttons, and they tend to trigger when my hand, or any warm thing, passes over them. Having the !!STOP!! activate in the middle of a good run is a shock for sure.

I can certainly agree with that, but I'm guessing Apple's buttons won't be activated by touch alone -- it probably will be something very similar to the "click" that was required to press the home button when they went to solid-state for that. If we end up with something like what you describe, I won't be happy, either.

 

[0ceans]

The iPhone 7/8 Home Button was convincing as ****. Most people had no idea that it wasn't an actual button unless they tried using it while the phone was off. This is tech that Apple can absolutely execute.

I do wonder what problem they're trying to solve though. The Home Button was an extremely frequent point of failure on older iPhones, but I'm not sure I've ever heard of somebody with a faulty volume or lock button. They aren't pressed nearly as often as home button were (specially after double- and triple- home button presses became common). Normally, getting rid of any moving part is a boon to reliability but I'm not sure it makes such a big difference with these low-frequency inputs.

Maybe it has something to do with superior water resistance?

 

[_Spinn_]

My first thought was what does this mean for phone cases?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

My first thought was what does this mean for phone cases?

Plan on buying another one? When someone told me that the 12 PM case worked for the 13 PM, I thought they were joking. I actually remember laughing and saying 'Sure, yeah, right. They have never been interchangeable from year to year.' But they were. Someone screwed it up somewhere...

 

[ProfessionalFan]

My first thought was what does this mean for phone cases?

Cutouts for the buttons perhaps?

 

[_Spinn_]

Cutouts for the buttons perhaps?

That's what I'm afraid of. Seems like a great place to accumulate crud

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

That's what I'm afraid of. Seems like a great place to accumulate crud

I had the magsafe connector on a MBP catch some metal in it that stopped the connector from working. Yeah, there is more than enough 'crud' that can get into small spaces...

 

[akbarali.ch]

Don't you need "real" buttons to turn on or force restart the device? Otherwise some part of the software needs to always work/run.

They may be already using an alpha prototype iPhone 17, so I'm pretty sure they have tested iPhone15 well.

Also, I used iPhone 7plus, it was pretty good. They have this metal ring to activate i guess.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Don't you need "real" buttons to turn on or force restart the device? Otherwise some part of the software needs to always work/run.

Do 'we' need real buttons?

No. I had a Garmin watch that had a touch sensitive bezel that was in place of physical buttons. I guess the idea was that the buttons weren't comfortable? The result was a bezel that either totally ignored my attempts to influence it, or triggered apparently by themselves. I seemed to be fighting that damned touch bezel quite a bit. It seemed it worked actually 80% of the time, but the times it didn't sure stick out.

So going completely buttonless could bring paradise, or a hellscape. I can see the drive to remove things that move. Anything that moves, even a physical switch is a potential for failure. Assuming anything that might be based on touch alone is reliable.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I'm waiting for the implantable cell phone.

 

[minimo3]

Let’s remove the headphone jack because it takes up space…. And let’s put in 3 Taptic Engine’s which take up 10x the space of a 3.5mm jack because…. Progress! It’s new so it has to be better.

 

[robertosh]

I buy it. This would make the iPhone even more water/dust resistant

 

[bushman4]

Solid state buttons with haptics. Will these be protruding buttons or built into the body??
Big difference.

If the buttons protrude even if they are digital it’s still a button. Truly digital buttons are flush with the body

 

[addamas]

Yay, more parts to be broken or serialized to prevent 3rd party repair.
Dear Apple, fix bugs then improve never opposite.

 

[napzero]

This seems like an overly complicated solution to what seems like a non-issue.

 

[mcled53]

Don't you need "real" buttons to turn on or force restart the device? Otherwise some part of the software needs to always work/run.

I think plugging in the (lightning) power cord turns on the device. Regardless, I would be okay with a "stick a paperclip in the little hole" method to force a restart.

 

[minimo3]

I think plugging in the (lightning) power cord turns on the device. Regardless, I would be okay with a "stick a paperclip in the little hole" method to force a restart.

You mean switch to Taptic buttons to improve water resistance and then add a hole to let the water in? 😆