iPhone 15 Pro Solid-State Button Sensitivity Can Be Customized to Cater for Cases and Gloves

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users will be able to customize the sensitivity of the solid-state buttons on their device, thanks to a new sensitivity toggle in Settings. That's according to details provided by a hitherto reliable source that shared additional details on the MacRumors forums.

iPhone 15 Pro Multi Purpose button Mute Switch Feature Green 2
Earlier this week, the same anonymous tipster revealed that the iPhone 15 Pro models will use a new ultra-low energy chip allowing the new volume, power, and "Action" solid-state buttons to remain functional when the handset is powered off or out of battery.

Some iPhone users immediately raised concerns about how the new capacitive buttons will work properly when a case is fitted or when gloves are worn. In response, the tipster has revealed that iOS 17 will include a new toggle in Settings that will enable users to customize the sensitivity of the buttons to accommodate these different usage scenarios.

iPhone case makers typically receive design details about Apple's upcoming models ahead of launch that allows them to make tweaks for button positioning and other external changes. Combined with the new sensitivity setting, this should avoid any potential issues with the peculiarities of the new capacitive buttons, which will detect presses, holds, and respond to various levels of pressure via the use of a new Force Touch-style mechanism and Taptic Engine feedback.

In line with previous rumors, solid-state capacitive buttons are expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models, with the standard iPhone 15 models retaining the same traditional button mechanism as on the iPhone 14 series. The iPhone 15 Pro is also gaining a new customizable Action button in lieu of the mute switch, with a unified volume button replacing the separate up/down volume buttons.

The iPhone 15 series is expected to be announced in September, as per Apple's typical iPhone launch timeframe. For everything else we know about the new iPhone 15 series, check out our dedicated roundups using the links below.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Two of Apple's Oldest Products Are Finally Getting Updated This Year

Friday February 14, 2025 6:03 am PST by
Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, followed by the AirTag in May 2021, and both still remain first-generation products. Fortunately, rumors suggest that both the HomePod mini and the AirTag will finally be updated at some point this year. Below, we recap rumors about the HomePod mini 2 and AirTag 2. HomePod mini 2 In January 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is ...

Top Rated Comments

Aleh Avatar
25 months ago
People can be so tiring. You don’t have to like the changes but acting willfully ignorant isn’t needed either. These buttons will have new functionality and will be more durable with time and yet we always get all these comments going on about “change for change’s sake” and “solutions in search of problems” and it’s just so bizarre to me.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
andyadler Avatar
25 months ago
Why do I get the feeling that this is a solution in search of a problem?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
25 months ago
That’s great! Reminds me of Touch Bar. But I still want Apple to leave the Mute Button alone.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
akb Avatar
25 months ago
I've used a phone with at least a few physical buttons every day for over 2 decades and never had one fail. You can't replicate the feedback and utility of a physical button with solid state.

This is Apple dangling a pointless upgrade carrot, or a cost saving drive that won't be passed onto the consumer - or both.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mrr Avatar
25 months ago
Hope it works when the battery is dead
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zakarhino Avatar
25 months ago

Why do I get the feeling that this is a solution in search of a problem?
The same argument could be made for 3D touch but in my opinion that actually made certain tasks faster (in particular Peek, one of the most useful features ever). The long press haptic version of Peek is slower and speed is everything especially for power users and young people that use their phones at 1,000mph.

Because these buttons will be pressure sensitive and work in conjunction with haptics you can create a volume rocker that lets you instantly mute without holding down the Volume Down button for a couple seconds. It also means the Volume Up Camera trigger button can operate like a two stage trigger whenever you're taking a picture.

Usually I hate these Apple "innovations" that actually make your life harder (touch bar) but this is the rare instance I get the vision and I'm excited. I think this will end up being a feature loved by a lot doubters but it's all dependent on a rock solid implementation.

Also my initial reaction to the solid state (no rocker) Mute switch was confusion but it makes complete sense. I've seen so many other people like myself on here that hardly ever use the mute switch because we always keep our phones in vibrate mode anyway. Instead I find myself frequently using the Lock Rotation switch. The problem with having a two state hardware rocker switch is that you cannot sync it with a software switch so the only solution is to make a solid state toggle button instead. This new design will let you remap the Mute button into something you use all the time without the out-of-sync issue I mentioned. I suspect Apple will implement a unique taptic 'feel' for 'on' and 'off' respectively so you can figure out the state of the button without actually looking at your phone.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)