{"id":608228,"date":"2023-02-15T07:49:37","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T13:49:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/15\/if-it-ever-comes-apples-first-foldable-iphone-may-ditch-physical-buttons-entirely\/"},"modified":"2023-02-15T07:49:37","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T13:49:37","slug":"if-it-ever-comes-apples-first-foldable-iphone-may-ditch-physical-buttons-entirely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/15\/if-it-ever-comes-apples-first-foldable-iphone-may-ditch-physical-buttons-entirely\/","title":{"rendered":"If it ever comes, Apple\u2019s first foldable iPhone may ditch physical buttons entirely"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-label=\"article\" data-id=\"MDvmfBzjXL7pfckzvhk36Q\">\n<header>\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\" aria-label=\"Return to Home\">Home<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\" aria-label=\"Return to News\">News<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/phones\" aria-label=\"Return to Mobile Phones\">Mobile Phones<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<div itemprop=\"image\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n<div>\n<picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" alt=\"Foldable iPhone concept image\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\"   data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" alt=\"Foldable iPhone concept image\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\"   data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV-320-80.jpg\" alt=\"Foldable iPhone concept image\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\"   data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\"><\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<p><meta itemprop=\"url\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VESj6GMfKmdThygif6mTgV.jpg\"><br \/>\n<meta itemprop=\"height\" content=\"600\"><br \/>\n<meta itemprop=\"width\" content=\"338\"><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\">\n<span>An unofficial concept image for a foldable iPhone<\/span><br \/>\n<span itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Shutterstock \/ Wit Olszewski)<\/span><br \/>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p>Apple\u2019s adoption of the touchscreen in its first iPhone proved a watershed moment for the technology\u2019s mainstream appeal, and the company may be preparing to take things one step further with future iPhone models and, potentially, its first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/foldable-iphone\">foldable iPhone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As first spotted by <a href=\"https:\/\/appleinsider.com\/articles\/23\/02\/14\/folding-iphone-may-be-touch-sensitive-all-over\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/appleinsider.com\/articles\/23\/02\/14\/folding-iphone-may-be-touch-sensitive-all-over\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Insider<\/a><span> (opens in new tab)<\/span>, Apple has been granted a <a href=\"https:\/\/ppubs.uspto.gov\/pubwebapp\/external.html?q=(US%2011579722).pn.&#038;db=USPAT\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/ppubs.uspto.gov\/pubwebapp\/external.html?q=(US%2011579722).pn.&#038;db=USPAT\" rel=\"noopener\">patent<\/a><span> (opens in new tab)<\/span> for the development of touch-sensitive, solid-state buttons that would allow users to navigate an iPhone using its edges, rather than its display alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Titled \u201cElectronic Devices With Display And Touch Sensor Structures,\u201d the patent details how \u201ccontrol circuits, batteries and other components\u201d would sit within \u201cthe walls\u201d of an iPhone chassis. These walls \u201cmay have opaque portions and transparent portions,&#8221; the document continues, which \u201cmay include opaque plastic, metal, fiber-composite materials and layers of other materials.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve previously reported on rumors suggesting that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/iphone-15\">iPhone 15<\/a> \u2013 specifically, the Pro and Ultra models \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/the-iphone-15-pro-could-get-solid-state-volume-and-power-buttons\">might get haptic volume and power buttons that don&#8217;t physically move<\/a>, and this new Apple patent adds further fuel to that fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure data-bordeaux-image-check>\n<div>\n<p><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" alt=\"Patent detailing touch-sensitive buttons for future iPhone\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" alt=\"Patent detailing touch-sensitive buttons for future iPhone\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\" alt=\"Patent detailing touch-sensitive buttons for future iPhone\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tjqKPAR7bXB7m2fGjN7Phb.jpg\" ><\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\"><span>Touch-sensitive buttons are rumored to appear on the iPhone 15 <\/span><span itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: United States Patent and Trademark Office)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Even more interesting, though, is Apple\u2019s solution for solid-state buttons on a potential foldable device. Alongside basic illustrations of what may as well be a foldable iPhone, Apple explains how touch sensors would sit within \u201csidewalls\u201d (as opposed to conventional walls) made up of \u201cthin metal lines that are sufficiently small to be invisible to the eye.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure data-bordeaux-image-check>\n<div>\n<p><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" alt=\"Apple patent for a foldable iPhone design\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-320-80.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\"><source type=\"image\/jpeg\" alt=\"Apple patent for a foldable iPhone design\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\" alt=\"Apple patent for a foldable iPhone design\" onerror=\"if(this.src &#038;&#038; this.src.indexOf('missing-image.svg') !== -1){return true;};this.parentNode.replaceChild(window.missingImage(),this)\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/vanilla.futurecdn.net\/techradar\/media\/img\/missing-image.svg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-320-80.jpg 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg-1200-80.jpg 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/s77AqCRae6kKC7uMZkhCkg.jpg\" ><\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\"><span>Apple illustrates how solid-state buttons might work on a foldable device <\/span><span itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: United States Patent and Trademark Office)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr>\n<h2 id=\"analysis-a-more-efficient-display-option\">Analysis: A more efficient display option?<\/h2>\n<p>In the new patent, Apple even goes as far as to explain why haptic, imperceptible buttons might be preferable to physical buttons in future iPhones. &#8220;It can be challenging [on conventional phones] to gather touch input from a user and to display images for a user efficiently,&#8221; the document reads. &#8220;For example, when a user supplies touch input to a touch screen display, the user&#8217;s hand may block images that are being displayed on the display.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In gaming applications and other applications,\u201d Apple continues, \u201cit may be desirable to use a touch sensor on the rear surface to gather touch input while displaying associated visual information on a display on the opposing front surface of [the] device.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that this isn\u2019t the first time Apple has flirted with the idea of touch-sensitive iPhone buttons. We <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/phone-and-communications\/mobile-phones\/apple-s-wrap-around-iphone-screen-pops-up-again-1323429\">reported on the possibility of a wrap-around display<\/a> for the iPhone 8 way back in 2016, but today\u2019s iPhone 14 line still maintains a conventional chassis structure.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That said, even if Apple doesn\u2019t reinvent the touchscreen with its next crop of iPhones, it\u2019s exciting to see that the company is actively accounting for foldable mobile designs in its new patent applications. Perhaps, then, it won\u2019t be too long before the tech giant debuts a device that can compete with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/best\/best-foldable-phones\">best foldable phones<\/a> on the market \u2013 though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/the-foldable-iphone-might-not-show-up-until-2025-at-the-earliest\">we&#8217;re not expecting to see an iPhone Flip for at least a few years yet<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" data-reactroot id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent\">\n<section>\n<p>Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div data-reactroot id=\"slice-container-authorBio\">\n<p>Axel is a London-based staff writer at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the newest movies to latest Apple developments as part of the site&#8217;s daily news output. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned a gold standard NCTJ qualification as part of the company\u2019s inaugural digital training scheme.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/news\/if-it-ever-comes-apples-first-foldable-iphone-may-ditch-physical-buttons-entirely\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><br \/>\n Larisa Roberie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Mobile Phones An unofficial concept image for a foldable iPhone (Image credit: Shutterstock \/ Wit Olszewski) Apple\u2019s adoption of the touchscreen in its first iPhone proved a watershed moment for the technology\u2019s mainstream appeal, and the company may be preparing to take things one step further with future iPhone models and, potentially, its<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":608229,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[270,4726,46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-608228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-apples","category-comes","category-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=608228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608228\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/608229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=608228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=608228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=608228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}