---
title: 'Inside the iPhone Air Taptic Engine: How Linear Vibrators Work'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=x0KyP8P_5PQ'
video_id: 'x0KyP8P_5PQ'
date: 2026-09-02
duration_sec: 94
channel: 'JerryRigEverything'
---

# Inside the iPhone Air Taptic Engine: How Linear Vibrators Work

> Source: [Inside the iPhone Air Taptic Engine: How Linear Vibrators Work](https://youtube.com/watch?v=x0KyP8P_5PQ)

## Summary

This video explores the evolution of smartphone vibrators, from early ERM motors to the advanced linear resonant actuators in modern devices like the iPhone Air and Nintendo Switch 2 controllers.

### Key Points

- **Coin vibrators introduced** [00:00] — Smartphone companies replaced ERM vibrators with coin-style vibrators in the early 2000s, as seen in the LG G6.
- **Limitations of coin vibrators** [00:13] — Coin vibrators are quieter, cleaner, and faster, but cannot provide complex vibrations for different situations like gaming or calls.
- **Apple's Taptic Engine** [00:28] — Apple popularized linear resonant actuators with the Taptic Engine, offering infinite custom vibrations and stronger feedback.
- **iPhone Air Taptic Engine teardown** [00:54] — The iPhone Air Taptic Engine is smaller than previous models, featuring dual copper coils and a spring-mounted magnet for instant response.
- **Switch 2 haptics** [01:26] — Similar haptic vibrators are found in Nintendo Switch 2 controllers.

## Transcript

So the smartphone company started swapping the ERM vibrators out for coin style vibrators in the early 2000s. Like this one inside the LG G6, may they rest in peace. It's a cute little guy.
Coin style or pancake vibrators are also what we find in smartwatches. They are quieter, cleaner, and they can start and stop quicker, but they still operate by throwing their weight around eccentrically. And they are not very good at providing complex vibrations for different
situations like gaming, text calls, or screen taps, all of which should feel different. Enter in the linear resonant actuators. It was Apple who made these haptic motors popular with
their Taptic Engine in the iPhones, so it's only fitting that we take a look at the vibrator inside of the new iPhone Air. These things are laser welded shut, so we got to get a little creative. The cool thing about these Taptic Engines is that they can provide an infinite
number of custom feeling vibrations or taps. And since they are linear, they have more distance inside to throw their weight around. And since the form factor of the vibrator is longer, it has a stronger feeling vibration as well. The iPhone Air Taptic Engine is a tad smaller than what we've
historically seen in some of the other iPhones, and it'll be interesting to see what we find in the 17 Pro. We have the dual copper coils for instant feedback, as well as the magnet that is held in place by metal springs on either end. So it returns to the center point instantly after
the vibrating signal has stopped. No spool down needed. We also see a very similar haptic vibrator inside the new Nintendo Switch 2 controllers.