Apple just announced iOS 18 in WWDC24, which finally has some AI features and a couple of other improvements. One of them is the improved visual effects. In the first developer preview of iOS 18, you will notice improved animation when you click the power button or the volume rocker. Using the buttons shows a “squeeze effect” on the screen, which suggests the use of solid-state buttons in the future, possibly in iPhone 16. The effect on the screen is also adjusted according to the frequency of clicking the buttons.
iOS 18 animations seemingly pave the way for solid-state buttons
In addition to the new animation, iOS 18 also adds an option to power off the phone from the control center without using the power button. It also suggests that there is a change coming to the buttons.
The iPhone 15 lineup was previously rumored to bring solid-state buttons. However, because of some technical issues related to mass production, Apple decided to cancel its plan and use normal clickable buttons last year with the iPhone 15 Pro models. But the changes in the operating system suggest that Apple hasn’t canceled its plan entirely.
Apple appears to have addressed the obstacles to mass-producing iPhones with the new technology, which may explain the implementation of revamped visual effects in the latest OS version.
Some relatively recent rumors also claim that the iPhone 16 lineup could finally come with a buttonless design (with solid-state buttons). A report from Economic Daily News claimed that Apple is working with ASE Group (Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, a global provider of semiconductor assembly and test services) to manufacture the capacitive button packaging module for the iPhone 16 lineup. So we could indeed see capacitive buttons on the iPhone 16 lineup.
According to some reports, the solid-state buttons could remain exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro models.
Apple could launch the new series towards the end of Q3 or early Q4 this year, so we’re only a couple of months away at this point. Stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated with more information as it comes out.
