iPhone 16, will the physical buttons disappear from the next model?

The rumors about abandoning physical buttons on future iPhones show no signs of abating. According to a recent report from Supply Chain, Apple has reportedly placed an order for a new capacitive button system which could be destined to replace the physical ones already on the iPhone 16.

This indiscretion further fuels speculation that the Cupertino giant is planning a radical change in the design of its flagship smartphones. L’adoption of capacitive buttonsin fact, it would represent an important evolution compared to the traditional mechanical buttons that have characterized the iPhone since its birth.

iPhone 16, design with capacitive buttons already in the next version?

Unlike physical ones, capacitive keys have no moving components, but detect the pressure applied by the user through special sensors. According to rumors, the new system includes a SIP (system-in-package) made by Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, which will be integrated into two Taptic Engines (one on each side), haptic engines capable of generating realistic vibrations to simulate the sensation of pressing a physical button. This solution would offer users more natural tactile feedback when interacting with the device’s buttons.

The rumors about the adoption of capacitive buttons on the iPhone 16 are nothing new. Last year it was rumored that Apple was planning to introduce this technology on the iPhone 15, however, due to unspecified production problems, these plans were shelved. Despite the rumors coming from the supply chain, however, It is not yet clear whether the design without physical buttons will arrive with the iPhone 16: Apple may have anticipated the supplies of components to begin testing the design of future iPhones that will arrive in the next few years.

At the moment the presence of a fourth seems more certain button dedicated to photo and video capture functions, called Capture Button. According to rumors, this should be a two-step mechanical button with also touch functions, offering the possibility not only of taking photos or recording videos, but also of setting the zoom or adjusting the focus without ever touching the smartphone display .