iPhone 7 and 7 Plus to Feature Pressure-Sensitive Home Button With Haptic Feedback

The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will feature a flush pressure-sensitive home button in place of the physical switch button found on previous iPhones, according to a Bloomberg report filed this morning.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the news outlet said that the new models will have a pressure-sensitive button "similar to trackpads in the latest MacBook line" that will provide feedback to the user via a vibrating haptic sensation instead of a true physical click.

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Last month, Mac Otakara cited unspecified supply chain sources that it claimed confirmed the veracity of an April Stormmedia report suggesting the same thing. MacRumors has also heard the same rumor from DigiTimes and analysts at Cowen and Company, but Bloomberg's report today substantially increases the likelihood that the rumor is indeed accurate.

In addition, the article claims that the dual cameras now widely expected on the larger iPhone 7 will produce brighter photos with more detail, "according to a person who has used a prototype version of the upcoming device".

Both sensors, which each capture color differently, simultaneously take a picture, and the device produces a single, merged photograph, said the person.

The dual system sharpens photos taken in low-light environments, the person said. The combination of the merged photos from the two camera sensors also allows users to zoom while retaining more clarity, the person added.

Elsewhere, Bloomberg noted that the new iPhones will have no antenna bands running across the back of the handsets, and Apple will remove the headphone jack in favor of connectivity via Bluetooth and the Lightning port. That will make room for a second speaker, said the paper's source, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Other rumored features for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus not included in the article include a faster TSMC-made A10 processor, faster LTE and Wi-Fi, a slightly larger battery, and a minimum 32 GB of base storage.

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus next month. Pre-orders could begin Friday, September 9, ahead of retail availability on Friday, September 16, according to noted leaker Evan Blass.

Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

jonnysods Avatar
108 months ago
They need to find a way to make the top and bottom bezel smaller so the footprint is a little smaller, I think that with be a great improvement.
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djcerla Avatar
108 months ago
Didn't think about the 2nd speaker taking the place of the jack.

Given I've used the 3.5" port exactly zero times on my 6S+, and that I use the speaker daily, the switch is a very welcome one.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
clukas Avatar
108 months ago
But i like my buttons and switches on my phone :(.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
levitynyc Avatar
108 months ago
Come on. Just give us a smaller chin and bezel and I'll be happy.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diddl14 Avatar
108 months ago
"said the paper's source, who preferred to remain anonymous"
As if we don't know it's Phill himself leaking all this ...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BrodieApple Avatar
108 months ago
To me when Apple implements a technology into their product, expect to see it spread across their product line. For example:
Multi touch iPhone > multi touch trackpads
Night shift > iPad Pro true tone display
Force touch (apple watch) > Force touch trackpads > 3D touch
Haptic feedback (watch) > trackpads > iPhone
Raise to wake (watch) > raise to wake (iOS 10)

Well I guess this might not apply for everything but yeah
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)