company news about Touch-Sensitive Button Molds Drive 35% Annual Growth as Physical Buttons Decline

Key Trend

The shift toward bezel-less and foldable smartphones is accelerating demand for custom molds for touch-sensitive mobile buttons, displacing traditional physical button (power/volume) molds.

Market Data

According to a 2024 report by Grand View Research, the global mobile touch button mold market is projected to reach $4.8 billion by 2025, up from $3.5 billion in 2023—a 35% year-over-year growth. This surge is fueled by flagship models like the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which have replaced 70% of physical side buttons with pressure-sensitive touch panels.

Technical Demands

Touch button molds require ultra-fine precision to replicate micro-scale sensor grooves (as small as 0.1mm) and uniform surface finishes. “Our clients now demand ±0.003mm dimensional tolerance for touch button cavities—any deviation disrupts pressure sensitivity," says Li Wei, engineering director at Heya Precision. To meet this, manufacturers are adopting 5-axis CNC engraving machines (e.g., DMG Mori NHX 5000) and AI-powered mold flow simulation tools to optimize resin flow, reducing touch response lag by 20%.

Foldable Phone Opportunity

Foldable devices (e.g., Xiaomi Mix Fold 5, Motorola Razr+) are a key growth segment. Custom molds for their flexible touch buttons must accommodate TPU and PC/ABS blend resins, which require specialized cooling channels to prevent warpage. Heya Precision’s recent work with a Chinese foldable phone OEM delivered molds that sustain 150,000+ folding cycles without touch function degradation.

Outlook

Analysts predict touch button molds will account for 60% of mobile button mold sales by 2026, up from 45% in 2024.