While the latest rumor about the iPhone 17’s chipset may be disappointing, not everything is staying the same. Apple is cooking up something new for its gadgets, and it’s all about buttons—or rather, the lack of them. A fresh rumor says the tech giant is diving back into developing haptic buttons, and this time, it’s not just for iPhones but also iPads and Apple Watches. These solid-state controls could change how you interact with your devices
According to Weibo tipster Setsuna Digital (in Chinese), Apple is restarting its haptic button project, which has been rumored for years. Unlike traditional buttons that click, haptic buttons don’t move—they’re fixed surfaces that use vibrations to mimic a press, cutting down on mechanical wear since there’s nothing to wear out. They also need to be touch-sensitive, potentially making them highly customizable. You could assign different actions for light or firm presses, short or long taps, and even swipe gestures—unlocking a wide range of new control options.
The catch? Apple is reportedly struggled with mistouches—accidental presses that throw off the experience. That’s why haptic buttons, once tipped for the iPhone 15 and later the iPhone 16 Pro, never made it to the retail units.
Now, Apple is not just revisiting haptics for iPhones but expanding to iPads and Apple Watches, suggesting a big push to rethink how we interact with across its ecosystem. Unfortunately, the rumor doesn’t say when we’ll see these buttons in action. Given Apple’s perfectionist streak, don’t expect them in on 2025’s iPhone 17 lineup. The iPhone 18 family in 2026, maybe, or even later for iPads and Watches, if especially if mistouch issues persist.
Why go all-in on haptics? Durability is a big plus—fewer moving parts means less breakage. Plus, the flexibility of software-driven buttons could make its devices more intuitive, like a MacBook’s Force Touch trackpad. If Apple nails the accuracy problem, this could be a game-changer. For now, we’re left guessing, but WWDC 2025 might drop some more hints.
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