Leaker: Solid-state buttons for the iPhone not yet off the table
In recent years, there has been a lot of hype about a possible de-mechanization of iPhone operation. This has not yet been completely buried at Apple.
Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro: Is it still possible in solid state?
(Image: Apple)
Apple has long been trying to replace mechanical operating components in its products with immovable parts that have pressure sensors. The advantage: an iPhone can be better sealed, for example, and at the same time there is more flexibility in redesigning the functions. Even before the iPhone 15 Pro was released in 2023, it was said that the buttons on the model would be entirely solid state.
Tactile feedback would be provided via Apple's vibration motor, the Taptic Engine, as we know it from the Mac trackpad, for example. However, nothing came of it. Despite rumors to the contrary, the iPhone 16 successor – also remained mechanical –. The technology proved to be too expensive and complex. But it is apparently not completely off the table, according to a leaker from China.
Technical problems
The person with the handle Instant Digital, who has already been correct in the past, claims that Apple is continuing to experiment with the technology. According to him, Apple mainly has problems with the technology, less with the financing. There are "false positives" and the correct response of the hardware is still not guaranteed.
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The project, codenamed "Bongo", promises various new features such as the ability to trigger a different function with a gentle press than with a firm one. Although the project is said to be "on hold" internally at Apple, research is continuing. However, according to the rumor mill, implementation is not expected for the iPhone 17.
Can you trust Solid State?
Apple planned to use solid-state technology for all buttons on the iPhone. This would have included the power button and the volume buttons. The company had to come up with extra technical tricks to ensure that the buttons could also be operated with gloves – and to ensure that an iPhone would really switch to off mode.
Because without mechanical feedback, the user has no control over this. Meanwhile, Apple has developed a capacitive solution with the camera control in the iPhone 16. However, the technology is significantly less advanced than what Apple had actually planned.
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