Here's a rare iPhone 14 Pro prototype with a tactile volume button.

We're already in the era of the iPhone 16, but it's always interesting to look back at Apple's older prototypes because we can see details the company left out during development. Now, a rare iPhone 14 Pro prototype gives us a closer look at what the rumored haptic volume button might look like.

This iPhone 14 Pro prototype was built even before the iPhone 13

The first rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro in early 2022 suggested that the device would have new solid-state buttons for volume and mute. However, it seems that the idea didn’t work out as expected, and Apple ended up not changing the buttons. Even the new action button is a clickable mechanical button with moving parts.

YouTube channel Apple Demo, which is known for sharing details about Apple prototypes, has now shown the world a rare iPhone prototype. The prototype dates back to May 2021, which is before the iPhone 13 launched. However, as Apple Demo points out, iPhone 13 and 13 Pro prototypes were already in the final stages of development around the same time.

This means that the prototype shown to the collector is actually a super early version of the iPhone 14 Pro, which makes it super special. The presence of the Dynamic Island on the screen pretty much confirms this.

However, this phone is very different from the final version of the iPhone 14 Pro. Inside, the device combines components from the 13 Pro and 14 Pro. The logic board is similar to the 13 series, but it lacks a SIM card slot. At the same time, the battery is covered with metal, just like on the iPhone 16 Pro.

Rumored solid-state volume button

But there’s one aspect that really stands out on this iPhone prototype, and that’s the volume button. That’s right, singular “button.” Instead of two buttons for adjusting volume, the device has one large button in addition to the classic mute/ring switch. The prototype confirms that Apple has been experimenting with solid-state buttons for some time.

The iPhone has “RANGER-DROP” etched into the side, suggesting that the prototype was intended for durability testing. Considering that the device doesn’t have any actual cameras or microphones, it seems like it was made specifically to test the new volume button.

At the time, Apple was rumored to be planning to remove all mechanical buttons from the iPhone. The company even considered increasing the number of Taptic Engines on the phone to improve haptic feedback when users pressed solid-state buttons.

However, analysts said Apple scrapped the idea due to its complexity. Some iPhone 15 Pro prototypes were also built with the new volume button, but the idea was ultimately shelved again. The iPhone 16 line still features the classic volume up and volume down buttons.

It's unclear at this point whether Apple plans to continue implementing solid-state buttons (especially since even the new Camera Control has moving parts). What about you? Would you like to see this technology on the iPhone? Let us know in the comments section below.