Almost since the release of the iPhone 12, rumors of future Apple smartphones have started. The highlights of these months suggest changes in some parts of the design of the iPhone, as the final disappearance of the notch, while others point to changes in “internal design” or underwater interface
The latest rumors after seeing one of the latest patents, however, suggest that Apple is thinking about a portless iPhone and, more importantly, releasing a smartphone that lack of any kind of button
The “need” for an iPhone without buttons
In this patent, Apple would consider improving the device appearance and not to interrupt the “continuity of the device housing”. The patent also speaks of the risk which means having mechanical buttons that can break, wear out due to dirt or water leaking to the internal parts of the device.
“The deflection of a metal frame from the input device causes a change in capacitance which is used to control a function of an electrical device. The input device appears invisible because it is made of the same material as the case in which it is contained. Invisible backlit holes can make the entrance selectively visible or invisible to the user ”
Clearly the answer to all these doubts about physical buttons would be “invisible” buttons. A Perfectly flat iPhone on its edges, it would be quite astonishing in terms of design. While it is true that Apple does not specifically mention the iPhone in the patent, it could therefore apply this technology to any of its products.
It remains to be seen how all of this can be made possible. Currently, some of the functions of the iPhone 12 allow you to use it without pressing any buttons. We will see how this Apple patent actually evolves and how it is integrated into devices.