Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Archived Post

Rumor: next get Apple Watch will add solid state buttons

The Apple Watch will be getting solid state buttons that don’t move up and down but rather sense the touch of a finger, according to Fast Company, quoting “a source with direct knowledge of Apple’s plans.”

The new gen smartwatch will retain current button configuration, with a button and a digital crown situated on one side of the device, but neither will physically click as before, the article adds. Instead of reacting to the user’s touch by physically moving back and forth, the new buttons will vibrate slightly under the fingertip, using the haptic effect Apple calls the Taptic Engine. 

However, the digital crown will still physically rotate to navigate through content, says Fast Company. The article does hedge its bets by saying that the solid state buttons could be delayed until 2019 Apple smartwatches. 

Other rumors about the Apple Watch Series 4 include a display that’s 15% larger thanks to a small bezel size, longer battery life, and enhanced health monitoring capabilities. The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) expects the next rev of the smartwatches to go on sale in December.


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Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.