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.

touchid
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

Top Rated Comments

jonnysods Avatar
87 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
87 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
87 months ago
But i like my buttons and switches on my phone :(.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
levitynyc Avatar
87 months ago
Come on. Just give us a smaller chin and bezel and I'll be happy.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diddl14 Avatar
87 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
87 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)

Popular Stories

iOS 16

Apple Releases iOS 16.4 With New Emoji, Safari Web Push Notifications, Beta Changes, Voice Isolation for Calls and More

Monday March 27, 2023 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID. iOS 16‌.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Will Add These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:06 am PDT by
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Some Apple Employees Seriously Concerned About Mixed-Reality Headset as Announcement Draws Closer

Sunday March 26, 2023 8:25 am PDT by
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Gurman: iOS 17 to Provide Several 'Most Requested Features'

Sunday March 26, 2023 6:05 am PDT by
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
apple tv 4k red image

Apple Releases tvOS 16.4 for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD

Monday March 27, 2023 10:00 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 16.4, the fourth major point update to the tvOS 16 operating system that came out last September. Available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, tvOS 16.4 comes two months following the release of tvOS 16.3. The tvOS 16.4 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update....
Steve Jobs Theater dusk

Apple Reportedly Demoed Mixed-Reality Headset to Executives in the Steve Jobs Theater Last Week

Sunday March 26, 2023 5:53 am PDT by
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
Apple Music Classical

Apple Explains Why It Launched an iPhone App Dedicated to Classical Music

Monday March 27, 2023 8:54 pm PDT by
Apple today published a support document explaining why it decided to release a standalone Apple Music Classical app for classical music. In short, Apple says the app was designed to support classical music's complex metadata:Classical music is different. It has longer and more detailed titles, multiple artists for each work, and hundreds of recordings of well-known pieces. The Apple Music...
iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Low-Energy Chip to Allow Solid-State Buttons to Work When Device is Off or Out of Battery

Wednesday March 29, 2023 1:54 am PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use a new ultra-low energy microprocessor allowing certain features like the new capacitive solid-state buttons to remain functional even when the handset is powered off or the battery has run out, according to a source that shared details on the MacRumors forums. CAD-based render of new solid-state buttons on iPhone 15 Pro models The source of this rumor is ...