Apple has been rumored quite a few times to be developing haptic buttons for iPhones, but obviously they haven’t yet launched. Now, a new rumor claims that not only has Apple restarted the haptic button project for future iPhones, but the company has allegedly expanded its reach to also include iPads and Apple Watches.
So it pretty much seems like Apple is now going all-in with haptic buttons, for better or worse. Obviously, it thinks their advantages are worth it. These solid-state “buttons” which technically aren’t actual buttons reduce mechanical wear (to zero, since they don’t move at all), while also letting you (or Apple) set different functionalities for a light press and firm press, or a short press and a long press, or all of the above.
Haptic buttons were rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max most recently, but plans were allegedly shelved. And now, the shelf is open and development is on the way again, of course, if this rumor is accurate. It doesn’t tell us when to expect haptic buttons to reach Apple’s products, so it’s probably safe to bet that it won’t be happening this year.
According to the source of this rumor, the reason why Apple hasn’t yet launched any devices with haptic buttons is that it hasn’t quite cracked the issue of mistouches. Maybe now it will be able to fix it – in time for the iPhone 18 family perhaps?
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Source (in Chinese)
