A New Apple Chipset and ‘Capture Button’ Is Reportedly in the Works for iPhone 16

The iPhone 15 series launched just a few days back, and now whispers about the iPhone 16 models are already circulating. With Apple's introduction of the 3nm A17 Pro SoC in the iPhone 15 Pro, speculations arise about its potential integration into the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. However, recent leaks suggest Apple might be taking a unique approach to the standard A17 chip.

A New Approach to Chip Manufacturing

Intriguingly, it appears that Apple might utilize a different manufacturing process for the A17 chip in the standard iPhone 16 models. According to information from a Weibo user who claims to be a 25-year integrated circuit expert, Apple intends to opt for the cost-effective N3E manufacturing process for the vanilla A17 SoC instead of the N3B process used for the A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro models.

A Different Process for Cost-Efficiency

The N3B process, developed in collaboration with TSMC, has been the preferred choice for Apple's original 3nm node. The N3E process, on the other hand, is considered to be more cost-effective and easier to use, but it has fewer EUV layers and a lower transistor density than N3B, resulting in lower efficiency.

RAM Upgrade and More

Additionally, it is rumored that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will come equipped with 8GB of RAM, a step up from the 6GB found in the iPhone 15 models.

Capture Button

Another intriguing revelation is the potential introduction of a new button on the iPhone 16 series, known internally as the "Capture Button" and codenamed "Project Nova." It is rumored to be located below the sleep/wake button and could be a capacitive touch button. Some speculate that it could improve photo or video capture capabilities, possibly in the realm of spatial content for Apple's upcoming Vision Pro.

Button Technology

The Capture Button is expected to be a capacitive button, distinguishing it from traditional mechanical buttons. Instead of physical movement upon pressing, capacitive buttons detect pressure and touch, providing haptic feedback through built-in haptic engines. The inclusion of force sensor functionality could further enhance its utility.

Exploring Past Experiments

Interestingly, Apple's experimentation with capacitive buttons predates the Capture Button concept. The Bongo project during the early development stages of the iPhone 15 Pro explored capacitive Power and Volume buttons, though it was eventually canceled due to unsatisfactory test results and hardware issues. This paved the way for the re-imagination of capacitive buttons in the iPhone 16 series.

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