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iPhone 15 Pro May Have Custom Chip to Run Touch-Sensitive Buttons

The chip would ensure the buttons work even if your phone is frozen or off.
By Ryan Whitwam
iPhone 14 Pro
Credit: Apple

Maybe foldables will become the de facto standard one day, but most devices today are still boring flat slabs. The iPhone 15 Pro might represent Apple's most notable design departure in years, but not for what it has. Instead, it might be notable for what it lacks: buttons. The smartphone is rumored to sport solid-state buttons, and a new report purports to explain how they'll work with the help of a dedicated co-processor.

Based on previous leaks, we now believe the iPhone 15 Pro will no longer have buttons that physically move to actuate switches. Instead, it will have pressure-sensitive zones that act as buttons. Apple would not be the first to attempt this—HTC gave pressure-sensitive buttons a shot several years ago with the U12+. Unsurprisingly, it didn't go well, but HTC was too far gone at that point to give the idea the testing and attention to detail it required.

A new post on the MacRumors forum claims a low-power chip is being developed to drive the buttons, along with other features. The co-processor would be active even if the phone is off or experiencing a software issue. So, your buttons will always work when you press them. Apple is reportedly still trying to decide if it wants swipe or press interactions to be the default for volume control. Regardless, the chip will let users change how the controls work, adjusting the volume faster or slower based on swipe distance or pressure applied.

CAD schematic drawing of alleged iPhone 15 buttons
This CAD drawing claims to show the button layout on the iPhone 15 Pro. Credit: None

The chip will even offer some basic functionality when the device's battery is dead. Current iPhones have a Super Low Energy Mode that runs on the main A-series processor when the battery is low. The new co-processor will take over that functionality, running Find My, Bluetooth, ultra-wideband, and Apple Pay Express card. The leaker notes that Apple may not give this chip a fancy name or talk about it in its press conference, but it's "definitely" going to be in the phone.

Although the leaker is highly confident, saying we should not take their post with a grain of salt, it is still a leak from an unverified source. We won't know for sure if Apple is going through with the touch buttons until the iPhone 15 family is unveiled later this year. Reports have also suggested the Pro phones will get a periscope camera for more camera zoom and a titanium frame. The non-Pro models are also rumored to get the Dynamic Island that debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro.

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