The iPhone 16 series is anticipated to introduce a new capacitive button, internally referred to as the “Capture Button.” This button is part of a project codenamed “Project Nova” and is positioned near the Power button, replacing the area where the mmWave cutout is located in current models. The mmWave cutout has been repositioned under the volume buttons on the opposite side of the device. This new Capture Button is still in its testing phase and could become one of the key features of the iPhone 16 lineup.
The Capture Button is expected to be a capacitive button, not a mechanical one. It will work similarly to the Home Button on the iPhone SE, utilizing haptic engines to simulate the feeling of a button press. It is also expected to have force sensor functionality. Apple previously dabbled in capacitive buttons during the development phase of the iPhone 15 Pro under the codename “Bongo,” but the project was canceled due to unsatisfactory results and hardware issues. Unlike Bongo, Project Nova aims to introduce the Capture Button across the entire iPhone 16 series, including the base model and 16 Plus.
Apple has prepared a hardware configuration without the Capture Button, likely as a backup in case of any hardware failures. Both eSIM-only and physical SIM card-supported units have been seen with the Capture Button during the development phase. Alongside this, another capacitive button known as the “Action Button” is in the works under “Project Atlas,” which uses similar technology to the Capture Button for haptic feedback.
The iPhone 16 base model will also see a redesigned camera bump with a vertical camera arrangement, similar to the iPhone 12. Pro models are expected to feature an increase in screen sizes to 6.3″ and 6.9″, up from the current 6.1″ and 6.7″.
It’s crucial to note that all this information is still pre-production. The design for the iPhone 16 series has yet to be finalized, and there’s a possibility that the Capture Button may not make it to the final product. As the iPhone 16 is still in the early stages of development, it will be interesting to see which of these rumored features make it to the final lineup.
