iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max owners will be able to adjust the sensitivity of the solid-state buttons on their handsets, via a new sensitivity feature in the Settings app. This is according to a “reliable source” in the MacRumors forums.
The anonymous tipster earlier this week posted in the publication’s forums that Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models will also be equipped with a new low-energy chip that will provide an ultra-low power mode that will allow the handset’s new solid-state buttons to respond to touch even when the device’s battery is dead.
When rumors of the iPhone’s new capacitive buttons first broke, some raised concerns that the new buttons won’t work properly when the device is in a case or when the user is wearing gloves. The tipster says iOS 17 will include a new toggle switch in Settings that will enable users to adjust the buttons’ sensitivity to accommodate these usage scenarios.
Solid-state capacitive buttons are expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models this year, as the standard iPhone 15 models will retain the traditional button mechanism as seen on previous iPhone models. The iPhone 15 Pro is also expected to sport a new customizable Action button in place of the traditional mute switch. A unified volume button is expected to replace the traditional separate up/down volume buttons.
Rumors like this traditionally float the internet before each annual iPhone launch, many times from iPhone case makers, who receive design details about upcoming handsets, to allow them to design and manufacture their cases to be ready for the device’s launch. The new cases should work with the new iOS 17 sensitivity setting to avoid any issues with the new capacitive buttons.
Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone 15 lineup this September, and that’s when we’ll know for sure whether these rumors pan out.