Apple definitely has some plans for the iPhone in the coming years. A patent surfaced last year, the one glass iPhone shows and also a Patent for an underwater mode Apple registered back in June.
The likelihood that the latter will come true (first) is increasing, as a supplier to Apple has given hints about waterproof solid-state buttons. This confirms existing rumours.
It’s not suitable for swimming, but our smartphone professional Patrick Schneider shows you how the iPhone 14 Plus performs in the test:
iPhone 14 Plus in the test: for whom is it worth it and who can save the upgrade?
Solid-State-Buttons im iPhone
Texas-based supplier Cirrus Logic, in one Letter to Shareholders announced that it continues “to work with a strategic customer” and expects “to launch a new HPMS component in smartphones in the next year”. HPMS refers to the powerful mixed-signal chips from Cirrus Logic that Apple needs for their Taptic Engines.
Was sind Solid-State-Buttons und Taptic Engines?
Solid-state buttons are not pressed down mechanically, just touched. A haptic feedback, i.e. a short vibration, lets you know whether the button was really triggered.
In the case of Apple, this is done by so-called Taptic Engines, i.e. small vibration motors. The technology of these buttons is nothing new in itself, because the iPhone 7 and 8 already had a solid-state home button.
In a Conference call with analysts Cirrus Logic CEO John Forsyth has also narrowed the window in which the new components will be released. Accordingly, they will appear in the “second half of next year”. This could coincide with the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro in September and thus confirm existing rumours.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had already published a tweet in October, in which he pointed out that the volume and power buttons are to be installed as solid-state buttons in the next high-end iPhone model. However, this has not yet been officially confirmed.
link to Twitter content
iPhone 15 Pro already with underwater camera mode?
The basic building blocks for the mentioned underwater mode would be laid with solid-state buttons because mechanical buttons are difficult to seal. Apple has already largely eliminated other problems in this direction, such as headphone outputs, SIM card slots and the like. Only the USB-C port planned for next year is still a problem.
However, reliable Apple leaker Mark Gurman claimed in October that the USB-C port is just a stopover on the way to a wireless future for Apple.
link to Twitter content
It can therefore be assumed that the iPhone for underwater filming will not come until 2024 at the earliest, if it comes at all. At least the solid-state buttons seem pretty certain to come for the iPhone 15 Pro.
If you still want to know whether the iPhone 14 can keep up with the Samsung Galaxy S22, then have a look here:
iPhone 14 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – Can the new iPhone hold its own in comparison?
What do you think of the solid state buttons? Would you want to do without mechanical buttons? And does a waterproof iPhone make sense for you? Write it and feel free to comment!