An iPhone without physical buttons will the biggest design change for Apple smartphones this decade. The Cupertino firm has been studying a change for some time, which is not as simple as it might seem. But the project continues forward, and according to information coming from China, it will take shape in the next generations.

Apple’s iPhone has been a trend setter since its launch. The overall design, where the entire front is occupied by a touchscreen and without a physical keyboard, which was the trend until then, was endlessly imitated by the rest of the manufacturers. Today, virtually no one leaves a design commitment that eventually became the norm.

And that’s it Apple sets the trend in smartphones. For better or for worse. For example, it was the first to opt for integrated batteries that could not be replaced by the user; by removing microSD cards; due to the removal of the mini-audio connector or to supply units without chargers or headphones. The physical keyboard is also being phased out.

iPhone without physical buttons: on iPhone 17?

Chinese newspaper Economic Daily News Progress that supplier Advanced Semiconductor Engineering recently won a contract to provide Apple with a system-in-package (SIP) module to be used with motors Taptic Engine and touch “buttons”.

With this, Apple would replace the current physical buttons on the iPhone (volume and action) by other types of controls based on “Solid-phase sensors with additional taptic motors for obtaining haptic feedback and simulating button presses”. This design has already been successfully used when replacing the physical home button with a touch variant.

A report from a Chinese newspaper is another sign that would confirm the general bet of analysts that the arrival of an iPhone without physical buttons is close. And if it hasn’t arrived yet, it’s because of technical issues that prevented it. But it’s only a matter of time. And rest assured that if this happens It will be immediately replicated by the rest of the manufacturers.

We do not know when the mentioned supply contract with the Chinese specialist will be completed. At this point, it seems unlikely that the removal of the keyboard will arrive on the iPhone 16, which is scheduled to be released in just five months. We’re betting on the iPhone 17, which can too remove the USB port in favor of a completely wireless power and data charging system. We’ll see.