Sad news for iPhone lovers: one of the biggest design improvements in this year’s iPhone update appears to have been scrapped. The reason? Apple no longer intends to adopt a solid-state button design on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, according to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. So, what do we get instead?
Kuo explains:
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.
Also, check out Kuo’s post on Twitter:
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My latest survey indicates that the volume button and power button of two high-end iPhone 15/2H23 new iPhone models may adopt a solid-state button design (similar to the home button design of iPhone 7/8/SE2 & 3) to replace the physical/mechanical button design.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) October 28, 2022
When the iPhone 7 was introduced back in 2016 and had a solid-state Home button, the tech giant based in Cupertino took a similar action. So, getting rid of a moving component was actually supposed to lessen the probability of mechanical issues. And that’s since the iPhone’s Home button had actually been one of its most prone to malfunction (ouch!)
Additionally, it is more difficult to use a static design on the power button than the Home button. Such designs require electricity; for instance, pushing the solid-state trackpad on a recently released MacBook after it has been turned off feels like smoothly pressing a flat, somehow an unresponsive piece of aluminum. However, it is actually evident that the power button must function even when the iPhone is turned off.
So, perhaps that is the “unresolved technical issue,” but some would point out that it is pretty handy for Kuo to be able to garner headlines twice by first establishing a rumor and then dying it off. However, the reputable leaker is typically knowledgeable, and as he pointed out recently, Apple still has time to reconsider its decision. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a surprise, especially when the tech giant is known for not offering many details about its upcoming projects.