Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max handsets will not feature solid-state buttons due to “unresolved technical issues before mass production.”
Kuo had said in October that the volume and power buttons on next year’s two high-end iPhone models would adopt a solid-state design, similar to the iPhone 7’s home button. The new solid-state buttons would replace the current mechanical button design. The new buttons would likely use a method similar to Apple’s Mac trackpads, which mimic the physical feeling of being pressed with small vibrations.
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.
- Investors had anticipated that the new solid-state button design would increase suppliers’ revenues and profits; thus, this change is particularly unfavorable for Cirrus Logic (exclusive Controller IC supplier) and AAC Technologies (Taptic Engine supplier).
- Luxshare ICT, another Taptic Engine supplier for solid-state buttons, will likely be less affected by this change due to its significantly larger operating scale vs. AAC Technologies.
- The iPhone 15 Pro is currently in the EVT development stage, so there is still time to modify the design. In addition, removing the solid-state buttons and restoring physical buttons will simplify the development and testing process. Based on these factors, removing solid-state buttons should have a limited impact on the mass production schedule and shipments for Pro models.
Kuo said there is still time for Apple to modify the iPhone 15 Pro’s design and he believes the change will have “limited impact” on the mass production schedule and shipments for the Pro models.
Tech analysts Jeff Pu and Shelly Chou at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities have also said the new Pro iPhones will still use physical buttons.
“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 shared by MacRumors. Pu and Chou say they believe the solid-state button design will not make an appearance until the iPhone 16 series in 2024.