While we had expected Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models to feature new solid-state haptic volume buttons, powered by a new Taptic Engine. However, in April, we saw rumors indicating that Apple had dropped the feature in favor of the traditional volume buttons.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman this weekend confirmed that Apple has scrapped the solid-state haptic buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, and will instead introduce them next year when the iPhone 16 Pro lineup debuts. Gurman says Apple has been “wavering” on the feature due to its costs and complexity.
Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now also claimed that Apple will hold off on the solid-state buttons until the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro models, due to “unresolved technical issues before mass production.” Kuo says the solid-state buttons will be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models, while the more affordable iPhone 16 models will retain the traditional mechanical volume button design.
Other rumors have suggested the Ring/Silent switch on the iPhone 15 Pro lineup will be replaced with a button as previously claimed, and this button could possibly be customizable, much like the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.