Here is an interesting theory developed by @ZONEofTECH on Twitter: recent renders of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 published by the 9To5Mac site would provide us with proof of important changes to come to the buttons of future Pro models. Indeed, these renderings were made from CAD files which do not include the buttons: we can therefore see differences between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro which betray two developments on the future Pro range.
(lire : Here’s what the iPhone 15 Pro should look like)
(lire : Renderings: the classic iPhone 15, with a 6.2-inch screen?)
The first element concerns the volume buttons. There is an evolution in the design, since the iPhone 15 keeps two separate buttons while the iPhone 15 Pro switches to a design where the two buttons are unified, with two contact points for this double button instead of four points of contact on the two buttons of the iPhone 15.
Apple has already used a single button for volume on some iPhone or iPod models, with a simple rocker system to click up or down. But on the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple could choose a different system according to the rumors: there would indeed be no more mechanical buttons! The click sensation would be simulated thanks to a small vibration provided by new Taptic Engines. The buttons would thus be more reliable and the sealing of the iPhone would also be increased.
The second element concerns the Ring/Silent switch, located above the volume buttons: we can see on the renders that there are no contact points at the bottom of this location on the iPhone 15, and c This is normal since the switch contacts are on the side as you can see in the image below. On the other hand, we can clearly see two contact points on the rendering of the iPhone 15 Pro, a sign that the technology is going to change: there should no longer be a switch but a simple button.
This is only a theory developed from renderings from a leak: we will therefore take the hypothesis with a maximum of hindsight. Nevertheless, the rumors were already clear: Apple wanting a priori to eliminate any mechanical aspect to gain reliability and sealing, the disappearance of the switch seems quite logical. It remains to be seen how a simple button could offer an advantageous alternative to the switch, which lets you know at a glance whether the iPhone is in ring or silent mode. Unless it’s more of a programmable button, like the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra, then who would have a whole other use?