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This year’s new iPhones might finally have the feature we’ve been waiting for

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 8:58PM EST
iPhone 6s Specs

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Various rumors detailing features for the next-gen iPhone have already surfaced, though they don’t paint a cohesive picture of Apple’s 2015 smartphones at all. Some people expect the company to make three new iPhones this year while others only see Apple launching follow-ups to the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones. Other reports claim that the new iPhones will be part of an “S” family of devices while others say Apple will skip those names, launching iPhone 7 handsets instead.

Of course, Apple is always working on new iPhone features that often appear in new patents awarded to the company. Even though technology described in patents isn’t always applied in commercial products, Apple’s iPhone patents are certainly interesting, as they offer a glimpse into the iPhone’s potential future.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this latest patent finds its way into Apple’s 2015 iPhone lineup.

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Patently Apple discovered a new patent application from Apple that describes a means of creating water-tight buttons for iOS devices. This seems to indicate that Apple wants to offer users waterproof smartphones, although it’s not clear whether the technology will be used in any upcoming iPhone models.

Apple wouldn’t be the first tech giant to launch waterproof smartphones. In fact, that’s already an iconic feature of the Xperia Z line, Sony’s flagship smartphone family. Samsung has also made waterproof handsets of its own, including the Galaxy S5, though the Galaxy S6 lacks waterproofing.

More details about Apple’s waterproof iPhone patent application are available at the source link, with an image from the patent showing Apple’s proposed water-tight buttons following below.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.