The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have been reported on countless occasions to ship with solid-state buttons, with Apple seemingly getting rid of physical buttons on both sides. Unfortunately, the latest report states that due to unresolved technical problems, the company will have little choice but to switch back to physical buttons.
Reverting to physical buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will adversely impact Apple’s suppliers
On his Medium blog, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that both the ‘Pro’ models are currently in the EVT, on the Engineering Validation Testing phase, which is a stage before mass production. However, Apple has run into development roadblocks that are reportedly forcing the technology giant to abandon solid-state buttons in favor of physical ones. Kuo claims that restoring physical buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max should simplify the development and testing process.
“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.”
Apple suppliers Cirrus Logic, who was providing the Controller IC, and AAC Technologies, tasked with delivering Taptic Engine units, will likely observe a significant loss to their business due to this setback. Luxshare, who is another Taptic Engineer supplier, is said to experience a loss in business as Apple switches to physical buttons, but out of the two, AAC Technologies will be the most affected.
To recap, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were rumored to arrive with three Taptic Engine units, along with a low-power microprocessor that could carry out several functions. If Apple reverts back to physical volume and power buttons, then those high-end iPhone models will lose out on a multitude of functions. These solid-state buttons would deliver the same haptic feedback as physical buttons, and according to one rumor, they would work perfectly if you were using gloves or have a case attached to any ‘Pro’ model.
Future buyers would also be able to adjust the pressure sensitivity of these solid-state buttons with a case on, and that would have been a nice touch from Apple. Unfortunately, certain complications mean we will not see these buttons debut on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Hopefully, Apple will find a way around this obstacle.
News Source: Ming-Chi Kuo
