iPhone 15 Pro to Get Low Energy Micro-Processor That Can Sense Button Presses While Phone is Off [Rumor]

Apple's next generation iPhone 15 Pro will reportedly feature a new Low Energy micro-processor that will be able to sense button presses when the phone is dead or powered off, according to a leaker on MacRumors' forums. This same leaker shared accurate rumors about Dynamic Island before its release last year.

Currently, Apple has a 'Super Low Energy Mode' that works via the main SoC chip inside current models. That mode enables Apple Pay when the phone is dead, as well as, Bluetooth tracking with Find My.

The leaker says the new microprocessor will take things a step further, sensing presses of the new solid state buttons.


The new micro-processor that will ship in the 15 Pro models will not only manage those tasks, but will also be able to immediately sense capacitive button presses, holds, and even detect their own version of 3D Touch with the new volume up/down button, action (currently ringer switch) button, and power button, while the phone is dead or powered down. It is currently being tested with and without Taptic Engine feedback while powered off, however not while the battery is "dead."Whether this tid-bit makes it to production or not is highly-uncertain but IS being tested.

Moving Find My, Bluetooth/UW, and Apple Pay express card features to the new micro-processor when the phone is off could greatly improve power consumption versus using the SoP.

Addressing the new volume button, the leaker says Apple has tested multiple methods of operation.

1. Volume goes up/down faster depending on the the amount of force-pressed on each respective capacitive volume button.
2. Volume can be controlled by swiping/sliding finger up or down on the volume capacitive rocker.


It's unclear which method of operation will make it into production; however, Apple can make modifications to how the button works via software.

Finally, the leaker notes that Apple is internally referring to the new Mute button as the Action button.

Apple isn't expected to launch its new iPhone series until this fall but we've been seeing a lot of early leaks this year. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are both expected to get Dynamic Island and Ceramic Shield but rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro will have thinner bezels, solid state buttons, and 8GB of RAM.

The iPhone 15 Pro will likely utilize an A17 Bionic chip made with TSMC's 3nm process, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will stick with the A16 Bionic and 6GB of RAM. All four models will purportedly have a USB-C port and Qualcomm's 5G Snapdragon X70 modem.

Finally, it's predicted the iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a periscope telephoto lens for better optical zoom while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus could get a 48MP rear camera lens.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more iPhone updates and check out some early renders here.