Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently hinted that the iPhone 15 Pro models will no longer have solid-state buttons due to "unresolved technical issues before mass production." He now expects the buttons to have a "traditional" design.
The change in plans was first hinted at by technology analysts Jeff Pu and Shelly Chou. In a research note published on Tuesday by investment firm Haitong International Securities (via MacRumors), the analysts said they believed the solid-state buttons would be postponed until the iPhone 16 series in 2024 due to unspecified "design issues." The iPhone 15 Pro models will therefore not be equipped with two additional Taptic Engines, as previously rumored. With a solid-state design, the iPhone 15 Pro's buttons would not have moved when pressed. Instead, two additional Taptic Engines inside the iPhone would have provided haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of movement, similar to the Home button on the iPhone 7 and the Force Touch trackpad on newer MacBooks.
iPhone 15 series: The launch is expected in September
There have also been rumors that the iPhone 15 Pro models will come with a single volume button and that the mute switch will become a multi-purpose action button, but it's not entirely clear if these changes will come. Apple could make these changes with clickable buttons. The other possibility is that Apple will stick with two volume buttons and a mute switch until the iPhone 16 Pro next year. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 Pro at an event in September. Other rumors say that the device will have a titanium frame, a USB-C port, an A17 Bionic chip, thinner bezels around the display, faster WiFi 6E, more storage, and more. (Photo by hadrian / Bigstockphoto)
