Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Models Will No Longer Feature Solid-State Buttons

[User 6502]

Hopefully they gave up on this silly idea completely. The mute switch is one of the things I prefer in the iPhone and that makes me prefer it over Android phones, if it goes for good I would seriously start to look more at the competition, as on many other fronts the iPhone is much behind.

 

[User 6502]

I feel like Apple should go back to naming new generations 13-13S 14-14S etc. differences in design are so small now that it raises the question is a new model needed every year?

Rather than worrying about nomenclature we should wonder why Apple can't innovate anymore. There are so many things that could be improved, but iPhone became stagnant. Why?

 

[b99g51]

The next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will no longer feature solid-state buttons due to "unresolved technical issues before mass production," according to the latest information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo said iPhone 15 Pro models would be equipped with solid-state buttons back in October. He said two additional Taptic Engines inside the iPhone would provide haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of pressing the buttons, without them physically moving, similar to the Home button on the iPhone 7 or the Force Touch trackpad on newer MacBooks. However, in a Medium post today, he said the devices will have physical buttons after all.

"My latest survey indicates that due to unresolved technical issues before mass production, both high-end iPhone 15 Pro models (Pro & Pro Max) will abandon the closely-watched solid-state button design and revert to the traditional physical button design," wrote Kuo. It's unclear if a "traditional" design means there will be two volume buttons or if Apple will still adopt a single, elongated volume button, as was previously rumored.

Kuo said there is still time for Apple to modify the iPhone 15 Pro's design given the device remains in the EVT development stage. He believes the change will have "limited impact" on the mass production schedule and shipments for the Pro models.

The reversal was also reported by tech analysts Jeff Pu and Shelly Chou at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities.

"Based on our supply chain checks, we now expect iPhone 15 Pro series to move back to the current design of a physical button due to a more complex design," said Pu and Chou, in a research note obtained by MacRumors today. The analysts believe the solid-state button design has been delayed until the iPhone 16 series in 2024.

Kuo said this news is "unfavorable" for Cirrus Logic and AAC Technologies, two key suppliers of Taptic Engine-related components for iPhones.

Article Link: Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Models Will No Longer Feature Solid-State Buttons

I wouldn’t give a rat’s ass about those lil toy features that don’t express in any other way, other than just a button. Whether it gives an impression of the physical button or taptic impression. That’s not a major upgrade. Getting rid of all but the power button would be considered as an upgrade.

by now, iphone and iPad should have no buttons at all. Only one single, small recessed power button and that’s all. I don’t understand why do the people get so fascinated by those silly buttons? I don’t use the volume buttons nor the mute button. The incorporation of the Focus does it well for the mute button, in addition to the other options are widely available for muting the phone/iPad Without sliding the physical mute button. It’s not convenient anyway. Not to mention about the amount of dust and debris accumulate in the slot.

give up those silly upgrades for any other major and useful upgrades! I’m glad, apple makes you cry in that disappointment. It’s a good news for me though. 😂

No more buttons. Scrap them all!
The device gets buggy from those useless aggregators.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Wasting time on a taptic engine for a fake button does not make any sense. If there is any space left in a phone, it should be used for the battery.

 

[rp2011]

Yeah, I think the rumor mill just got it wrong again. Apple wouldn't be goofing with it this far along in the game. We have seen time and again how the rumor mill gets it wrong or at least ahead of schedule. The Watch for example, and just today the 27" external display.

 

[one more]

While we cannot be upset about something we did not have in the first place, this poses some questions.

Will Apple still put those rumoured extra taptic engines in? If not, will they go with a bigger battery, as they must have designed the insights counting for that extra taptic gear?

Was it indeed caused by technical issues or more by component pricing? It is hard to imagine Apple would encounter “technical issues” so late in the development cycle.

Either way, from what we already know, Apple used to have backup plans for their iPhones.

So, basically, if both iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 get the Dynamic Island and USB-C as rumoured, the Pro line will be differentiated by a better chip, camera and ProMotion.

 

[newyorksole]

this may sound weird and I’m definitely in the minority lol, but I was looking forward to the new buttons.

definitely not a necessary change, but idk. I’m open to changes like this. just adds to the new things to experience on a device that has in a way reached its peak.

 

[nottorp]

OMG, Apple is dying! They canceled a useless feature done in the name of thinness that was only going to cause problems! This is not the Apple we've come to know and love, of the emoji keyboard fame! They have to pursue thinness at all costs!

Oh btw, I do hope they're canceling the esim only models too...

 

[User 6502]

While we cannot be upset about something we did not have in the first place, this poses some questions.

Will Apple still put those rumoured extra taptic engines in? If not, will they go with a bigger battery, as they must have designed the insights counting for that extra taptic gear?

Was it indeed caused by technical issues or more by component pricing? It is hard to imagine Apple would encounter “technical issues” so late in the development cycle.

Either way, from what we already know, Apple used to have backup plans for their iPhones.

So, basically, if both iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 get the Dynamic Island and USB-C as rumoured, the Pro line will be differentiated by a better chip, camera and ProMotion.

I think you highlighted the issue: the pro model shouldn’t exist at all. There should be one flagship model every year, in two sizes if they really must, as it used to be. This pro/non pro distinction is unnecessary and messy. Basically to keep it alive all they do is to nerf the ‘base’ (in name but not price) model removing basic things mid range phones from the competition have had for years (for example 120 Hz refresh rate display, or ‘promotion’ as apple call it for reasons best known to themselves)

 

[UK-MacAddict]

Thank God! Please Do Not Remove the Mute Button.

I thought this initially but it seems it’s heading towards being an action button like on the Apple Watch Ultra. Then users can choose the function of the button itself. This I agree with.

Also the mute switch currently gets annoyingly dirty and dusty and it’s hard to clean because the area is so small.

 

[Muzzakus]

You’ve just lost yourself a sale Tim Apple

 

[sharpie000]

so in other words, besides USB-C, iPhone 15 is going to look exactly like the 14? Damn, I wish Steve Jobs were still alive.

 

[one more]

I think you highlighted the issue: the pro model shouldn’t exist at all. There should be one flagship model every year, in two sizes if they really must, as it used to be. This pro/non pro distinction is unnecessary and messy. Basically to keep it alive all they do is to nerf the ‘base’ (in name but not price) model removing basic things mid range phones from the competition have had for years (for example 120 Hz refresh rate display, or ‘promotion’ as apple call it for reasons best known to themselves)

I agree and I think the real reason behind the whole Pro & Pop lines is driven by Apple’s profit margins. If they could learn and live with a more moderate ones, they would be able to still earn well and get their products into many more hands worldwide, as their current prices start to bite…

 

[Fred Zed]

So what will the "hero" feature be now?

A special color. 👍🏼

 

[BorisDG]

Tomorrows news:

"iPhone 15 Pro's periscope lens dropped due to QC issues. ($4)"

 

[one more]

so in other words, besides USB-C, iPhone 15 is going to look exactly like the 14? Damn, I wish Steve Jobs were still alive.

Yep, just like 14 vs 13. On the positive side, though, this will still give a good value to iPhone 13 line once 15 come out.

However, for being environmentally-friendly and all, Apple seem to be wasting a lot of material & resources still selling their outdated stuff. Like what’s the point of still selling iPhone 12, when 13 is also being sold and is quite a bit better in all respects. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[Johnny London]

The last remaining things that can be changed on the outside of the iPhone are these buttons and the port. To me, the mute switch is too hard to use on an encased iPhone. The power button on the right is useless as I don’t use Siri and so often pressed by accident when taking photos. I can see a use case for solid state buttons with enhanced functionality: pressure dependent scrolling speed or a swiping gesture on the elongated button.

 

[anthogag]

Solid state buttons for the rugged iPhone Ultra…tbc 👣

 

[cdsapplefan]

There is zero chance they are tinkering with the design of the iPhone 15 this close to it being launched. They are already working on the iPhone 16. Production of the 15 is surely already under way.

They went back to the same gpu design at the “last minute” in last year’s iPhone 14 pro’s because of a overheating problem with the new gpu chip it was reported. So it definitely is possible to change up at the last moment. Cook didn’t want any delays so he ordered the old gpu chip in the iPhone 14 pro

 

[cdsapplefan]

The case manufacturers complained about this feature and Cook listened 😆 📱

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

so in other words, besides USB-C, iPhone 15 is going to look exactly like the 14? Damn, I wish Steve Jobs were still alive.

Why, do you think he would bring out magical new designs every year, reinventing what a phone can do every September?
Because… no he wouldn’t

 

[HiVolt]

Best news I could have ever heard, as I was planning to upgrade to the 15 Pro Max from my 12 Pro Max, and I was not looking forward to button gimmicks.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

However, for being environmentally-friendly and all, Apple seem to be wasting a lot of material & resources still selling their outdated stuff. Like what’s the point of still selling iPhone 12, when 13 is also being sold and is quite a bit better in all respects. 🤷🏻‍♂️

right, the environmentally friendly thing to do would be to throw all those perfectly working iPhone 12s in the trash where they belong.
/s

 

[DMG35]

They went back to the same gpu design at the “last minute” in last year’s iPhone 14 pro’s because of a overheating problem with the new gpu chip it was reported. So it definitely is possible to change up at the last moment. Cook didn’t want any delays so he ordered the old gpu chip in the iPhone 14 pro

Isn't that a little different than changing the entire design of the phone? I of course could be way off here but changing a chip and changing the material design of the phone, which would also change the inside of the phone, seems like something they wouldn't be doing this late in the game. The design finalization of the iPhone 15 was most likely last year when the 14 was being introduced.

Again, I have no clue but it just seems that something as large in scale as iPhone production is that its far too late to change the design of it.

 

[JM]

Whelp. There goes the 15’s “killer new feature”

Guess it’ll be a flop, then 🤷‍♂️