Apple has just released the iPhone 14 series, and we should wait at least one year to see the next generation of iPhones. But Ming-Chi Kuo argues that the company is now developing solid-state power and volume buttons, which would be similar to the home button design of iPhone 7, 8, and SE 2. Also, it would replace the physical/mechanical button design. Kuo says, “Taptic Engines located on the internal left and right sides to provide force feedback to make users feel like they are pressing physical buttons.” iPhones are currently using one Taptic Engine, but this will increase the number of engines to three, which is good news for Apple suppliers. Of course, Kuo didn’t specify which iPhone 15 model will get this feature, but the Pro model is more likely to get it. Adopting solid-state power and volume buttons will help Apple to move toward designing portless iPhones.
Android flagships will also adopt solid-state power and volume buttons
Kuo believes Android smartphone manufacturers will likely adopt this design for their flagship products. Of course, it needs to be made clear which manufacturers will be at the forefront. Still, China-based companies like Xiaomi and OPPO have always been pioneers in adopting innovation, and they’re more likely to follow Apple sooner than anyone else. Samsung and Google are also expected to follow the trend. Switching to these buttons could bring some benefits to smartphones, including removing two ingress points for water and paving the way for portless phones. Additionally, under-display speakers can be more common among devices.
