Apple would switch completely to solid-state buttons with haptic feedback for the iPhone 20 in 2027, the 20th anniversary edition of the iPhone. This marks the end of the traditional mechanical buttons that users have known for two decades.
According to Chinese leaker Instant Digital, Apple has completed the “functional verification” of the solid-state button system and the product is ready for mass production for the iPhone 20. The change would affect all physical buttons on the side, including the power button, volume buttons, the Action button and the Camera Control button.
Solid-state buttons explained
Solid-state buttons are pressure-sensitive controls that do not physically move when pressed. They use Apple’s Taptic Engine to recreate the feeling of a click. This technology was first used in the home button of the iPhone 7 (2016) and can still be found in the trackpads of MacBooks and the Magic Trackpad for iMac.
Unlike traditional buttons, there are no moving parts; the button registers pressure with sensors and the Taptic Engine provides tactile feedback that simulates a click. Many users don’t notice that the button doesn’t actually move; many were unaware that the iPhone 7’s Home button was a solid-state solution.
iPhone without physical buttons
The idea of bringing solid-state buttons to the iPhone isn’t new. In 2022, there were already rumors that Apple wanted to use this technology for the iPhone 15 Pro. However, these plans were later canceled due to technical problems. Similar plans were also postponed for the iPhone 16 Pro.
Instant Digital reported earlier this year that Apple hasn’t completely given up on the project and is actively working on haptic button technology for the iPhone and other products like the iPad and Apple Watch. According to sources, the main problem was not the cost, but the reliability of the buttons.
Main challenges were accidental touches and inconsistent feedback. The current prototype has buttons integrated into the frame without recoil, but Apple is looking for a way to better emulate the sensation of a traditional mechanical button.
First test: Camera control iPhone 18
Before solid-state button technology is complete in 2027, Apple would already take a step with the iPhone 18 in 2026. According to Instant Digital iPhone 18’s camera control will get a simpler design without a pressure-sensitive layer, and only presses will be retained. Pressure sensors can then recognize taps, firm pressure and swipe movements, without the degree of pressing. Later, Apple would add piezoelectric ceramic components for haptic feedback. These piezoelectric actuators can make precise vibrations and also work as pressure sensors.
The iPhone 20 and the 20th anniversary
The iPhone 20 is expected to have the biggest design change since 2017’s iPhone Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman described it as a “predominantly glass, curved iPhone with no screen cutouts,” meaning the selfie camera and Face ID sensors disappear beneath the screen. The device has the code name ‘Glasswing’, named after a butterfly with transparent wings.
Apple might even adjust the model number for the iPhone 20 by skipping the iPhone 19 and jumping straight to iPhone 20, to make the model number coincide with the anniversary year. Apple made a similar leap in 2017 with the iPhone X (10) and this year with the transition from iOS 18 to iOS 26.