iPhone 15 Pro capacitive buttons will even work with gloves and cases

It addresses many concerns about how the new solid-state buttons will work in real world scenarios

Alleged CAD image of iPhone 15 Pro
(Image credit: TikTok/Chenwen1987)

It's fair to say the iPhone 15 range looks set to be the most eagerly anticipated phone release in Apple's recent history. A host of early leaks and rumours have given us a good idea of the kind of upgrades we can expect.

The Pro line sounds especially interesting. Among a host of rumoured features – like a titanium case and a 3nm processor – the Pro models are expected to do away with traditional physical buttons, replacing them with capacitive ones instead. In theory, that should improve water resistance, by removing another potential entry point into the handset.

It has prompted some questions about how it will work, though. Earlier this week, I wrote about how the buttons will work even if the phone is dead. That came from a source within Apple's development team, and now the same source has commented again, addressing concerns about how they'll work with gloves, or a phone case.

In a comment on the same thread, the user said, "Those capacitive buttons will work very well with gloves and cases if designed correctly, as there’s a sensitivity toggle." That's great news, and should allow users to use all of the functions of their handset in any scenario. 

With an expected release date around September, were still some way out from seeing these models in the flesh. Keep your eyes peeled at the 2023 WWDC event in June, though, as we could get a glimpse of them there.

Senior Staff Writer

Sam is an award-winning journalist with over six years of experience across print and digital media. As T3’s Senior Staff Writer, Sam covers everything from new phones and EVs to luxury watches and fragrances. Working across a range of different social media platforms alongside his written work, Sam is a familiar face for fans of T3. When he’s not reviewing snazzy products or hunting for stellar deals, Sam enjoys football, analog photography and writing music.