Gurman: iPhone 16 Pro 'Likely' to Include Haptic Buttons

For much of the iPhone 15 rumor cycle, we expected the higher-end Pro models to feature new solid-state haptic volume buttons powered by a new Taptic Engine. In April, rumors indicated that Apple had scrapped the feature, with plans to stick with standard volume buttons.

iPhone 16 Mock Header 1
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this weekend confirmed that Apple has nixed haptic buttons, and will instead introduce them next year. Gurman says Apple has been "wavering" on the feature because of the costs and the complexity. While internal test models still have the functionality at the current time, Apple is "likely" to hold solid-state technology until the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also claimed that Apple plans to hold solid-state buttons until the launch of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, with Kuo attributing the delay to "unresolved technical issues before mass production." Solid-state buttons will be limited to next year's ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, while the more affordable iPhone 16 models will retain the same volume button design as the iPhone 14 and the upcoming ‌iPhone 15‌.

With the transition to solid-state buttons, Apple planned to change the design of the volume controls, adopting a single, unified button rather than a dual button design. That design change seems to be tied to the swap to haptic technology, and so the iPhone 15 Pro models will use the standard two button look for volume.

We are still expecting one notable design change, though, with Apple to adopt a mute button instead of a mute switch. The mute button could serve as an "Action" button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra, with the option to program it to perform different functions.

For more on what's coming to the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, we have a dedicated roundup.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
New MacBook Pros Launching Tomorrow With These 4 New Features 2

M5 MacBook Models to Use New Compact Camera Module in 2025

Wednesday July 17, 2024 2:58 am PDT by
Apple in 2025 will take on a new compact camera module (CCM) supplier for future MacBook models powered by its next-generation M5 chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Writing in his latest investor note on unny-opticals-2025-business-momentum-to-benefit-509819818c2a">Medium, Kuo said Apple will turn to Sunny Optical for the CCM in its M5 MacBooks. The Chinese optical lens company...

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
16 months ago
What’s it going to take for Apple to bring back this volume button design? I miss simpler times!

Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
16 months ago
How about bringing back 3D Touch with the Haptic Buttons?

[MEDIA=twitter]1591217349935235072[/MEDIA]
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
16 months ago
The butterfly keyboard is more reliable than Gurman.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacGizmo Avatar
16 months ago
The most disappointing thing about this rumor is that we're going to have to see it posted here at MR at least 3 times per week for the next 16 months, in the form of "Mark Gurman says,' 'Here's what to expect,' and the ever-popular 'Here's what we know" headlines.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
noSpeed Avatar
16 months ago
Still don’t see the problem this is fixing. Is it introducing some new feature set?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gaximus Avatar
16 months ago

How about bringing back 3D Touch with the Haptic Buttons?
Yes please, I miss 3D Touch.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)