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iPhone 7 May Include Flush '3D Touch' Home Button

Tuesday July 26, 2016 1:22 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple's iPhone 7 may not include a physical home button, instead adopting a touch-sensitive "3D Touch" home button, reports Mac Otakara [Google Translate]. Such a home button would be flush with the body of the iPhone and would not actually depress when a finger is placed on it.

Instead, when a user presses on the home button, haptic feedback will mimic a press, much like the Force Touch trackpad on Apple's most recent MacBooks. Through haptic feedback, iPhone users will feel the sensation of pressing on a button even though there's no actual button to press.

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Mac Otakara's report refers back to an April home button rumor from Stormmedia and confirms its veracity, citing unspecified supply chain sources and saying there's a "high possibility" the rumor is accurate. We've heard the same home button rumor from DigiTimes and analysts at Cowen and Company. While none of these sources have track records accurate enough to unquestioningly say the rumor is true, the fact that it's a rumor we've heard multiple times now suggests it could be accurate.

A flush home button, when combined with rumors of improved waterproofing and the removal of the headphone jack, makes some sense. Without a physical button, there would be no way for water to get into the internals of the phone around the button, and it would also potentially improve the reliability of the Touch ID system.

Based on leaked part images and dummies, the removal of the home button will not drastically change the look of the iPhone 7.

Should Apple remove the physical home button in favor of a Force Touch or 3D Touch home button in the iPhone 7, the company will be one step closer to eliminating the home button entirely, something that's rumored for the 2017 iPhone.

Tag: macotakara.jp
[ 101 comments ]

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BMcCoy
42 months ago
How about making the camera lens flush, Apple?
Rating: 28 Votes
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farewelwilliams
42 months ago
if it doesn't have a tactile feel, it's the worst home button ever.
if it does have a tactile feel, then I am okay with this.
Rating: 10 Votes
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azentropy
42 months ago
A home button that doesn't move and but has haptic feedback is fine as long as it is NOT flush. I want to be able to feel the button by feel without having to press it (or attempt to press it).
Rating: 10 Votes
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mjs402
42 months ago

Useless since it will still require this redic huge tube tv like bezel



I always shower with my Galaxy to change the music or hold it under water to clean it


No matter how much you try to clean your Galaxy, it's still a Samsung.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Relentless Power
42 months ago
If they could add a LED notification ring around the home button with haptic feedback. I would be one happy customer!
Rating: 7 Votes
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TurboPGT!
42 months ago
A very good idea. Keeps the tactile feel, and loses the susceptibility of wear and damage.
Rating: 6 Votes
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doelcm82
42 months ago

Step closer to that waterproof iPhone.

And don't worry about drooling on it. It can take it.
Rating: 5 Votes
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tigertazz
42 months ago
Step closer to that waterproof iPhone.
Rating: 4 Votes
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SMIDG3T
42 months ago
Another step closer to a waterproof/water-resistant iPhone.

The only port that'll remain is the Lightning Connector!

We don't need the Home button thanks to iOS 10's Raise to Wake feature and we don't need the Home button to enable the App Switcher.

The only hurdle I see is how would we reset our phones. I guess you'd just apply pressure to the Home button while holding the Sleep/wake button.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Sirious
42 months ago
"press home to unlock" is probably The one piece of evidence Apple will do this with the home button.
Rating: 4 Votes

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