Instead of a mechanical button that depresses when you push it, the iPhone 7’s solid state (non-mechanical) Home button doesn’t move and instead operates using software, providing haptic feedback to mimic the feel of a button push. Because the button requires skin contacts, it’s lead us to believe that the Home button on the iPhone 7 uses Touch ID to figure out if you’re pressing the button.
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Now that the phone is out on the streets, users have been playing around with the handset, and a new discovery has been made – the new-look home button only works with skin-on-iPhone contact. Apple has moved its latest device into a more pressure sensitive static version of the home button.
And if you, for some reason, don’t want to use the new capacitive touch Home button, there’s also the option of using AssistiveTouch to bypass it altogether (h/t MacRumors).
Not all hope is lost for glove wearers, however. And because the iPhone 7 uses the redesigned Lock screen in iOS 10, there’s no quick and easy way to bring up the passcode entry screen to unlock the phone manually (the quickest way sans Home button is to swipe to the widgets screen and tap one). Capacitive gloves, that is, those created to work with touchscreens, should be able to work, but many users are finding that it’s either hit or miss with the gloves they already own, indicating that a specific material might be needed.
And with iOS 10 ditching swipe to unlock, it’s going to be a lot harder to get into your phone in the first place. It seems to be very inconsistent, as others have said that their touch screen optimized gloves do not work.
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Hopefully this doesn’t blowup into a big problem for users, but it’s still something to be aware of, especially those with long commutes and who will be wearing gloves often in the coming months.
