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For many iPhone users (myself included), aprotective caseis an absolute necessity.

Right now, iPhone cases are mostly pretty simple, but Apple says they can have their own problems.

iPhone 12

The patent (above) suggests capacitive buttons could be built into the iPhone case itself, alongside support for features like Touch ID

So how do you fix this problem?

Well, the patent contains some interesting nuggets on this subject.

One possible solution is to build capacitive buttons into the case itself.

A patent diagram showing an iPhone case

The patent (above) suggests capacitive buttons could be built into the iPhone case itself, alongside support for features like Touch ID

Preparing for the iPhone 16?

The iPhone 16 range is rumored to launch with capacitive buttons that dont actually move when you press them.

They essentially work by detecting the presence of your finger, then tapping it lightly using a haptic engine.

iPhone 15 Pro Max in a case, showing the action button from the side

The iPhone might not be able to detect your finger if the equipment is obscured by a case.

That said, we dont know if these ideas will ever come to fruition.

Theyre just patents, after all, and Apple often explores ideas that never actually go anywhere.

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