After years of anticipation and false starts, Apple's ambitious solid-state button project looks ready for a real comeback. Apple has completed functional verification for its next-generation button tech, according to BGR. The plan is to debut it with the iPhone 20 in 2027, a shift that could rival the moment the home button vanished. Testing now spans every physical control, from power and volume to action and camera, which would become pressure-sensitive zones with sophisticated haptic feedback, as reported by MacRumors.
The bigger picture: ecosystem transformation
This is not just about iPhones. Apple's solid-state push reportedly extends to iPads and Apple Watches under "Project Bongo," Cashify reports. That broader plan helps explain the persistence. Solve the hard problems once, then roll the solution across the lineup.
The 2027 target gives Apple room to finish the work. Before the full rollout, Apple plans a transitional step with the iPhone 18 in 2026, simplifying the Camera Control button by removing its capacitive layer while keeping pressure sensitivity, according to Gadgets 360. Prove the core pressure sensing on one control first, then scale up.
The potential for borderless visuals paired with haptic controls could reshape how we handle our devices, as MacRumors suggests. It is not just replacing buttons. It hints at designs where screen and controls blend into a single, uninterrupted surface.
Are we finally ready for the buttonless future?
With the iPhone's 20th anniversary on the horizon and the tech maturing, 2027 feels like a plausible launch window. Apple now appears confident enough to target mass production, GizmoChina confirms. Functional verification addresses the false touches and responsiveness issues that blocked earlier attempts.
There is also a clean fit with other rumored iPhone 20 changes, such as displays that curve around all four edges, according to MacRumors. Solid-state buttons would preserve that seamless look while keeping full functionality. The result could feel like a single piece of tech in your hand. Imagine an iPhone that is essentially one continuous surface, with haptic zones exactly where your fingers land.
The effort reportedly focuses on eliminating accidental inputs while ensuring a consistent, reliable tactile experience at scale, GizmoChina notes. If it works, the standard for premium phones may shift, with feel becoming as important as the visuals, Cashify suggests.
Bottom line: Apple's solid-state button project is more than an engineering exercise. It is a reimagining of how we touch our most personal devices. The 2027 target for iPhone 20 signals that Apple has learned from prior setbacks and believes the tech is finally ready for the everyday demands of hundreds of millions of users.
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