The iPhone 7 may not be the major refresh that Apple’s full-number iPhone releases usually are, but it could feature an intriguing new addition in the form of a “Force Touch Home button,” according to analysts at Cowen and Company.
Cowen doesn’t exactly spell out how this will work, but the report suggests that the iPhone 7’s Home button will sit flush with the rest of the iPhone and will be based on pressure-sensing “Force Touch” technology, along with haptic feedback, to provide the effect of being pressed — as opposed to relying on a physical button mechanism.
If this is correct, it backs up similar reports from earlier this month.
From the sound of things, this concept could be a halfway house to eliminating the Home button completely, as previous reports have suggested Apple will do in future. Last year we heard that Apple may get rid of the physical iPhone Home button in a future handset by integrating fingerprint sensors into the main display: something it already has a patent for.
Considering that the Home button of the iPhone is a regular failure point, I can see why Apple would want to get rid of it — even if it would mean a big change for Apple’s iconic iPhone design. It would also be intriguing to consider that Force Touch tech could open up new possibilities based on how hard you pressed the “button” in question.
Does this sound like a good idea to you? Leave your comments below.
Via: Business Insider
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
27 responses to “Apple to ditch iPhone 7’s home button in favor of Force Touch”
This report triggered PTSD derived from the days of using the touch-capacitive functions on my LG Chocolate
Same here with my lumia windows, but the touch force is giving me some relief.
sounds like a good idea, unlike most android phones, the round home button is taking up quite some space, removing it can really open up possibilities, it is only logical to do so. sure gonna miss that iconic circle though
Yes, without the button, Apple would free up bezel and end up with more screen real estate. But the home button is a very useful button! As mentioned in my comment above, it makes using an iPhone without looking much easier – I can orient the phone in my hand without looking (the home button dimple) and, thus, also invoke Siri without ever looking at the screen. You can’t do that with some/many Android phones.
I am not sure which side are you on, I read some of your comments, you debate with those who agree and disagree with the idea. my point is simple, I like the home button, (it is gold on my iphone if that will make it sound more convincing), but I love to see what apple gonna do with the possibilities, I don’t think it is just about freeing up space on the face.
and yeah, compare to most modern Android phones, either with a smaller “home button” or totally go without a physical one, the home button on iphone does take up more real estate, comparatively, I am not talking about functions here, but if you must go there, HEY! SIRI! works for me, not sure about you.
I am not going to worry about the orientation, I am sure we will figure out a work around sooner or later, like we always do, or maybe Apple already have plans, like they always do.
Again, I am not saying I hate the home button, I am going to miss them (said that before)
missed one point, I do agree with your idea of retaining a “dimple” on the screen, virtual button is a total pain to use… at least on android phones that have it.
Sorry if my position wasn’t clear: I’m all for Apple making the button virtual – iff they can retain a physical marker (like a circular ridge on the glass) so that I can pull the phone out of my pocket and put my thumb in the ‘right’ place to unlock it without looking.
Also, I hope that Apple uses the freed-up space (essentially eliminating much of the top and bottom bezel *not* to add another row of icons, but to make the phone physically smaller than it currently is (by superimposing the virtual home button on top of existing screen). I hated moving from the 4″ iPhone 5 to the 4.7″ iPhone 6, because I could no longer reach the top left corner of the screen with my thumb. It’s amazing how much less comfortable the phone is to operate when you have to loosen your grip to reach up there (sooooo many apps put their “back” equivalent there!) The only reason I made the jump is because Apple seemed, at the time, to be abandoning the 4″ form factor with regards to tech – and being a tech junkie, I have to have the latest. I was actually tempted to get the SE when it came out a couple months ago. Now I’m waiting to see what Apple does with the 4.7″ form factor. Keeping fingers crossed that they’ll shrink the overall size.
now we are on the same page, yes and yes, I am using a SE and I couldn’t be happier with the size, I have rather big hands, even so, reaching the edge of a 4.7″ screen is pretty painful, please please Apple please make iPhone small again.
How does that make sense. They’re still going to have an area of the phone dedicated to the function of the home button. If they put it in screen area, then that real estate will be unusable except for a home button function.
Whether its a physical home button, force touch home button or capacitive button it still uses space on the phone.
What makes you think that area needs to be dedicated to the function of the home button? With a virtual home button, the button representation could consist of a simple ridge on the glass (so users know where to put their thumb) plus an optional ‘painted’ button during use. When just looking at the phone that part of the screen could be used for any purpose.
Just seems like a slower solution… clumsy compared to the current home button.
how is it either slower or clumsier? you’d use the virtual button just as you now use the physical one.
Good lord – do you WORK for Apple or something? Your replies sound like you work in their PR department ha!
Nope – just a big fan with too much time on his hands. How can I sound like their PR department when this feature doesn’t even officially exist? Nice try.
Wasn’t “trying” anything…you seem to just be policing every response with counter responses, it was a natural conclusion. So nice try yourself. :-)
Uh, it might be a natural conclusion if that’s what PR departments did. A much more natural conclusion would be that I’m a know-it-all. Which would be the correct conclusion as well :-)
Hardly complimentary self-description, but we can agree on that. But a self-proclaimed “know-it-all” might do better to let others describe him that way instead. As the Swedish proverb says, “Better to be closed-mouthed and thought a fool than to open your mouth and dispel all doubt.”
We thank you for dispelling all our doubts about you.
Ha! Essentially the immature “neener neener” response. I commend you on your intellect. Prove me wrong: if you’re a low-intellect antisocial know-it-all moron, you’ll respond to this message. Wait for it….wait for it….
tjwolf, if you work for apple remind them when removing the physical home button not to make the new area too sensitive because i hate swiping down on my other phones and back, home, or search is triggered. I think you got it with force touch. Just a reminder.
I use the touch assist to avoid wear on the home screen, so this would be welcoming if implemented correctly since i don’t have to chase the white circle.
the button is a handy way to orient the device without looking at it – say in the dark – before you turn it on, though now it can wake on lift, this might not be so necessary anyway.
I hope Apple retains enough usability expertise to provide a ridge in the glass where the virtual home button resides.
If not someone is going to patent a “ridge with adhesive bottom” and start selling.
“even if it would mean a big change for Apple’s iconic iPhone design. ” – it doesn’t have to. A force-touch based home button can look the same and feel similar to the existing one.
I’ve always suggested Apple make the home button virtual – but include a circular ridge on the glass, so folks can still orient their phone by feel, as they currently can with the home button’s dimple.
apple might pull the virtual home button off with force touch. I have used other phone and especially in surface phone, the virtual button is a pain. Using one hand typing, when I tried to click something on the left or upper left, the base of my thumb for example exit the app and the search app is activated. Also when swiping down, i triggered one of those virtual keys. That is why I think apple retained the physical button for so long because it equate to less frustration. Again, if force touch is used, the virtual home button might work as well as the physical ones. I know several people including myself who use the touch assist’s white dot to avoid wearing down the home button. Also, the force touch virtual home could have another benefit = waterproofing the home button. Great move by apple.
BTW, google and msft, pay attention. Make one button, because when user get lost in an app and don’t know what to do, all they need is a single button to take them home.
That would be a great idea.
Few draw backs.
Finger print.
Hard rest on a frozen phone.