Hands-on with the iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype, a first look at the tactile volume/power button that was canceled by Apple

According to news on July 10, technology media AppleInsider published a blog post yesterday (July 9), sharing photos of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max prototype. The biggest highlight is the use of a volume/power button code-named Bongo with a tactile design.

Project Bongo Project Development History

Reported on Apple’s Project Bongo project in September 2023, Apple plans to redesign the volume and power buttons to bring a new interactive experience in terms of functionality and appearance. Apple began using linear resonance actuators in the iPhone 4s launched in 2011, which greatly reduced the amount of noise generated and significantly improved response time. Apple subsequently introduced the Taptic Engine in the iPhone 6s launched in 2015, allowing users to receive tactile feedback by pressing certain areas on the iPhone display again. The earliest design of the Bongo project can be traced back to 2021, two years before the release of iPhone 15 Pro. The goal of the project is to replace the iPhone’s traditional mechanical buttons with improved tactile technology. At the same time, Apple may hope to adopt new technologies to Reduce the inherent hardware failure rate of mechanical buttons.

Project Bongo Project Introduction

Project Bongo is to change the volume and power buttons from traditional mechanical buttons to tactile buttons, detect pressure and simulate the pressing of physical buttons by using a tactile engine (tactile feedback) that generates vibration. Bongo Project feedback mechanism for pressing tactile buttons: There is a bend sensor under the button that can measure the pressure applied to the button. The strain gauge detects changes in pressure and converts them into changes in resistance, and accurately measures the changes. Sends a signal to the main logic board indicating that the button is pressed. The main logic board sends power instructions to the Bongo haptic engine The Bongo haptic engine generates vibrations through electromagnetic fields Then tactile feedback is generated through the vibration and a slight upward movement towards the finger to simulate the feeling of a physical button being pressed.

iPhone 15 ProMax Prototype

What is exposed this time is the EVT stage prototype of iPhone 15 Pro Max. The device identification code during development is D84, and the project code is "Veyron". Apple has canceled the Bongo project in April 2023, and these EVT prototypes are the last products to include Apple’s tactile buttons. In terms of system, the EVT prototype runs the InternalUI version of iOS 17. This means that the device contains a dedicated iPhone operating system variant that is used internally by Apple engineers for development and testing purposes. In the subsequent CRB and DVT prototype stages, Apple canceled the tactile buttons of iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and instead used traditional mechanical buttons.

Experience

The source said that the tactile buttons of Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max were originally designed to be somewhat similar to traditional mechanical buttons and will still move after the user presses them. If the device is powered on, the tactile volume and power keys produce feedback and a clicky sound when pressed. The source stated that after the user presses and releases the tactile button, tactile feedback will be generated immediately. Its working principle is basically the same as Apple’s Magic Trackpad, which will generate overall feedback and press sound. If the device is turned off and the battery is exhausted and the charging indicator light cannot be displayed, after the user presses the tactile button, the button will still move, but will not provide tactile feedback to the user. Simply put, this tactile experience requires power supply, and there is no There is no tactile feedback on the power supply. According to people familiar with the matter, the Bongo-type buttons use special firmware, which mentions a "deep sleep" mode. Deep sleep mode may be activated once the device is powered off or inactive for a long period of time. Sources reveal that the buttons react to pressure even when touched with gloved fingers or when used in a pocket. This illustrates the button's ability to detect changes in pressure without direct contact with the skin.

The key hardware components of the Apple Bongo project and how they work

The component features two strain gauges, one on each side of the button, which detect changes in pressure and convert them into changes in resistance within the circuit. The change in resistance causes a change in voltage, and the potential difference between the two strain gauges is used to determine the location of the origin of the pressure (increasing volume or decreasing volume). Apple In order to promote the Bongo project, Apple developed the "Bongo Haptic Engine", which is an electromagnetic-driven reluctance motor. Reluctance motor is an advanced motor commonly used in the field of microelectronics. By using reluctance motors, Apple is able to achieve faster vibration speeds than traditional vibration motors, while also providing faster response times. The Bongo haptic engine is designed to provide more nuanced vibration feedback and a better user experience. The Bongo haptic engine consists of a ferromagnetic core and a copper coil, which together form a solenoid. The haptic engine generates vibrations by oscillating relative to an attraction plate located directly beneath it. Related reading: "Exploring Apple's Bongo Project: Tactile Volume/Power Buttons Not Used on iPhone 15 Pro Models"

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