Last year, we heard rumors that Apple was getting rid of the physical buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro and replacing them with capacitive solid-state buttons. Instead, we got just one, the action button. However, these rumors were not so easily assuaged, and now there are claims that we may see the end of buttons as we know them in the iPhone 16.

This comes from a supply chain report from the Economic Daily, which claims that Apple has ordered Advanced Semiconductor Engineering - suggesting that we will see capacitive buttons on the iPhone 16. However, this does not mean that Apple is not just adding an Action button to the non-Pro iPhone 16s or the rumored Capture button.

The order is said to include a new System in Package module that will replace the iPhone 16's traditional mechanical buttons. The report specifically mentions the power and volume buttons, noting that Apple needs two "system-level package modules" to replace the mechanical buttons with new capacitive buttons and Taptic Engine motors.

If this report is true, it appears that the new buttons will have no moving parts and that the buttons themselves will sense touch and respond with tactile feedback to let you know something has happened. This would greatly reduce the likelihood of debris entering the back of the button casing, making the button itself less likely to be damaged in the long term.

The reason Apple did not add solid-state capacitive buttons to the iPhone 15 Pro is said to be due to "manufacturing complexity" along with high cost and software integration issues. Therefore, it was postponed to this year and may be released with this year's iPhones.

Supply chain reports suggest this may be the plan, but much could change between now and September. That is assuming Apple has concrete plans to include solid-state buttons. After all, there is no guarantee that this order was made for this year's iPhone.

The question is which iPhone 16 models are slated to receive this upgrade if solid-state power and volume buttons are to be included. Reports suggest that the non-Pro iPhone 16 could get new capacitive buttons. However, such upgrades typically debut on Pro models and migrate to other iPhones a generation or two down the road.

It is also worth noting that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are said to have a new vertical camera arrangement.

We will just have to wait and see how all this plays out. In the meantime, you can check out the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro hub for the latest news and updates.