iPhone 16 Rumored to Ditch Physical Buttons for Capacitive Touch
Apple's transition to capacitive buttons has been a topic of much speculation for years. The iPhone 15 Pro was initially expected to feature them, but reports suggest Apple backtracked due to time constraints. More recently, rumours swirled about a new "Capture" button on the iPhone 16 being capacitive, while the rest remained physical.
iPhone 16: Going Completely Buttonless?
The latest leak suggests a major shift – all four iPhone 16 buttons (volume, power, Action button, and the mysterious "Capture" button) could be entirely capacitive, replacing traditional physical buttons altogether. This information comes from Economic Daily (via AppleInsider) and indicates a significant production order for capacitive components placed with Apple's long-term partner, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE).
Project Bongo: A Full-Scale Move to Solid-State Buttons
AppleInsider reveals Apple's internal codename for this capacitive overhaul: "Project Bongo." This replaces the previous "Project Atlas" which only referred to a capacitive "Action" button. This suggests a definitive move towards solid-state buttons across the entire iPhone 16 lineup.
A Pinch of Salt: Potential Discrepancies in the Leak
It's important to approach this rumour with some caution. The Economic Daily claims heavy shipments from ASE in Q3, while the iPhone 16 launch is expected in September (beginning of Q4). This discrepancy could be due to either inaccurate information or specific components (like the "Capture" button) being shipped earlier.
Capacitive Buttons Confirmed, But All Buttons?
While the presence of some form of capacitive button on the iPhone 16 seems likely, it's too early to definitively say all buttons will be solid-state. Only Apple has the final answer to this.
Haptic Feedback: A Familiar Feeling for Users
However, there's more concrete information about how these capacitive buttons might work. The Economic Daily reports that the iPhone 16 will likely utilise two Taptic Engine motors for vibration feedback when pressing any capacitive button. This would mimic the experience of the iPhone SE (2022)'s Home button or the trackpads on MacBooks, providing a familiar feeling for Apple users.
