Apple Planned to Use Solid-State Buttons for iPhone 15 Pro, but Plan Was Rejected
A letter sent to the shareholders of the Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has revealed that Apple had planned to use solid-state buttons for the iPhone 15 Pro in the fall. It is unclear why this plan was rejected for the time being, but it has caused the management of Cirrus Logic to prepare the shareholders for a drop in sales. There are several indications that the unnamed customer is Apple. Firstly, there is talk of a smartphone that is due to appear in the fall. Secondly, the customer is very reserved internally regarding their future plans. Lastly, Apple was Cirrus Logic’s largest customer in 2022, with a 79% share.
Fixed Keys Advantages for Manufacturers
Speculations have been circulating for months that Apple could replace the iPhone’s movable keys for volume, on and off and mute with simulated ones. In such a case, the haptic feedback would be generated by Taptic Engines. Fixed keys are advantageous from a manufacturer’s perspective due to the absence of moving parts, reducing the need for device openings through which water can enter and the need for repair and service on customer devices. Cirrus Logic calls the device that would enable this change, the High Performance Mixed Signal Segment (HPMS).
Technical Problems Responsible for Waiver
Cirrus Logic indicated in November 2022 that it was expecting a major order this year for HPMS, but analysts have heard that technical problems are responsible for the now expected waiver, causing Apple to postpone the changeover. Apple remains silent on such questions. However, it is still expected that, as a first step in the fall, the toggle switch for muting will be replaced by a new button that will resemble the action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
