According to a Taiwanese news publication, the iPhone 16 could launch later this year with capacitive buttons on both sides of the handset instead of physical buttons. United Daily News reports that Apple could equip the iPhone 16 series with buttons that could mimic the feeling of pressing a physical button by providing tactile feedback when touched. The company was previously rumored to equip the iPhone 15 lineup with capacitive buttons, but reportedly abandoned those plans last year.
According to the report (in Chinese), Apple has ordered capacitive button components from Taiwan-based supplier Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE). The company is reportedly planning to replace the iPhone 15’s physical volume and power buttons with a new set of capacitive buttons that respond to touch with haptic feedback, which could come with the iPhone 16 series.
If the claims in the report are true, Apple could equip the iPhone 16 series with capacitive buttons paired with a System in Package (SiP) module and two Taptic Engine motors. According to the report, this will allow the iPhone to emulate the feeling of pressing a physical button.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time information has emerged that Apple will release an iPhone with capacitive buttons. The company was reportedly planning to launch the current generation iPhone 15 lineup with advanced buttons, but the handset was released with mechanical buttons instead.
Last year, Apple launched the Action Button, a programmable button that replaced the Mute switch on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This button is expected to make its way to non-Pro models this year as well, and Apple is also rumored to introduce a new ‘capture’ button centered on the phone’s camera.
According to reports, Apple wants Taiwanese suppliers to produce these components in the third quarter of 2024, while the Cupertino company is expected to launch the iPhone 16 series in the third quarter of this year. Instead, the company could delay including capacitive buttons on the iPhone. The 17 series is scheduled to be released in 2025.
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