Apple iPhone 15 Pro will feature mechanical buttons

Previous reports suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro series would replace mechanical buttons with “solid-state buttons,” which, in essence, are buttonless. Apple intended to incorporate Taptic Engines within the power and volume buttons to provide haptic feedback upon touch.

Eliminating mechanical buttons could have further enhanced the iPhone’s water resistance. However, Apple ultimately abandoned the solid-state button approach, opting to retain mechanical buttons instead.

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals that, due to technical issues, Apple has abandoned the solid-state button concept. This change transpired during the Engineering Validation Test (EVT) phase.

The EVT phase is among Apple’s most crucial stages, as it encompasses the entire product design and manufacturing process, allowing Apple to finalize validation and commence production.

Kuo asserts that Apple’s decision to forgo solid-state buttons should reduce manufacturing complexity and simplify development, while changes at the EVT stage will have a limited impact on the mass production and shipping timeline for the iPhone 15 Pro series.

Before Kuo’s revelation, tech analysts Jeff Pu and Shelly Chou at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities released similar information, indicating that solid-state buttons remain under consideration but will not be implemented at present.