Apple iPhone 15 Pro rumoured to get solid-state volume buttons

One of the latest rumours about the next iPhones has to do with its volume and power buttons. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple will switch out physical buttons for solid-state power and volume buttons. These will function similarly to the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 7 or the iPhone SE (2022). It uses two additional Taptic Engines on the left and right sides of the frame. Solid-state buttons mean these won't physically sink into the device when pressed. Instead, you get haptic feedback to confirm presses. 

These new buttons will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra models (depending on what will be launched). The standard iPhones will retain the physical buttons. 

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Apple iPhone 15 Ultra tipped to replace Pro Max moniker, major redesign expected

Apple might be changing around the branding for its most premium iPhones. In his Power On  newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be rebranded to the iPhone 15 Ultra in 2023. This change could also coincide with the most significant redesign for the iPhone since the iPhone 12 came out in 2019. Gurman claims one of the biggest changes would be the shift to USB-C.

While this is far off, one of the immediate news Gurman talked about is the lack of another Apple event this fall. He claims the company will have new Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro models to launch before the year ends. However, these will be iterative, so Apple is "more likely" to share the products through press releases instead.

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iPhone 14, 14 Plus tipped to get enhanced A15 chip

Source: MacRumors

A couple of days before Apple's Far Out event, more rumours about the new Apple iPhone 14 series is coming up. The Wall Street Journal reports the lower-end iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus will get an "enhanced version" of the A15 Bionic chip. If the report is accurate, then only the Pro versions (possibly the Pro and Pro Max) will get the new A16 chip, marking the first time Apple limits the release of its latest chip to the Pro models

This enhanced version of the A15 is expected to be similar to the higher-end A15 five-core chip on the iPhone 13 Pro models. So, you can expect improved graphics from the previous generation.

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Apple Watch Pro might not support older Apple Watch bands

Apple is rumoured to be unveiling a new Apple Watch Pro during its upcoming "Far Out" event on September 7. And one of the latest leaks about this smartwatch is you can't use older Apple Watch bands with it. Leaker UnclePan, who correctly predicted the screen sizes of the Apple Watch Series 7, claimed on Chinese social media Weibo that the Apple Watch Pro would get a 47mm/48mm displays with wider straps. They said the squared shape of these upcoming watches wouldn't be a perfect fit with the existing bands.

If the reports are accurate, the Apple Watch Pro will be the first Apple Watch that doesn't offer retro compatibility for existing bands. This Watch Pro will reportedly visually differentiate itself from the Series 8, but rumours diverge over whether the watch will get flat edges. The Pro is also expected to feature a "more durable formulation of titanium" to make it a more rugged device, get better battery life, and add support for body temperature measurements.

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