Will iPhone 16 be the first iPhone without mechanical buttons?

According to a report from Economic Daily , Apple has placed a large order for capacitive button components from Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) - its longtime component supplier. This is a testament to the fact that this technology is rumored to replace all buttons on the iPhone 16 series.

In addition, iPhone 16 will use two Taptic Engines to create vibration feedback when the user presses the button. This is similar to how it works on Apple's Magic Trackpad.

Will iPhone 16 be the first iPhone without mechanical buttons? Picture 1

To completely eliminate mechanical buttons, iPhone 16 will need two new SIP (System in Package) integrated circuit boards provided by another longtime Apple partner, SMIC. The order is expected to reach large output in the third quarter. This may sound late to be able to equip the iPhone 16 series, but normally components for new iPhones are massively produced in the third quarter, before when Apple releases new iPhones in large quantities in the fourth quarter.

Regarding the "Capture button", as has been rumored recently on the iPhone 16, it is said to have the internal code name "Project Nova", while the "Action" button has been changed to a pressure sensor called code "Project Atlas". "Project Bongo" is the codename of a previous - and perhaps current - project that refers to the application of pressure-sensitive buttons to the remaining buttons on the iPhone.

A few months ago, rumors about the pressure-sensitive button on the iPhone 16 were spread across social networking sites. Initially, the leaked news suggested that only the Capture button was a capacitive button. But then, there are sources who claim that this button will still be mechanical and can respond to pressure.

The iPhone 16 series is expected to be launched by Apple next September. Notably, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max versions have strong camera upgrades, support for Wi-Fi 7 and 5G Advance connectivity, and a cooling system with graphene material. The two high-end iPhones are expected to use the A18 Pro processor. Meanwhile, the two standard versions will use the A18 chip with some cuts.

According to MacRumors , the new iPhone will be supported by artificial intelligence, allowing users to interact with chatbots or create images with text right on the phone. In addition, Apple is also expected to have major camera upgrades for iPhone 16, especially the two high-end versions iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

According to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 16 Pro will use a 48MP dual sensor that first appeared on the iPhone. Besides, the high-end iPhone model in 2024 also has a 12MP periscope lens.

Jessica Tanner

Update 25 April 2024