Apple Reportedly Plans to Outfit All iPhone 16 Models With Redesigned Action Button
According to reports, Apple is planning to introduce a capacitive Action Button for the iPhone 16 series, departing from the mechanical button featured in its predecessors.
iPhone 16 — expected to debut in the second half of 2024 as the successor to the iPhone 15 series of smartphones — could be equipped with Apple’s new Action Button. While the company equipped the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with the new button designed to replace mute switch, a new report states that the company is planning on equipping all four models in the lineup with the customisable button, which is expected to arrive in a revamped form.
MacRumors reports that Apple will include the Action Button on all iPhone 16 models that are likely to arrive next year. Unlike the iPhone 15 lineup, the non-Pro iPhone 16 models are also expected to feature the new Action Button. It is also suggested that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might be the last iPhone models to debut with the mute switch — even the iPhone SE 4 is tipped to debut in 2025 with the new button.
Meanwhile, the report states that the Action Button on the iPhone 16 series will be revamped next year. Instead of using the regular mechanical button like the volume and power keys, the new Action Button will offer capacitive-style button functionality like the iPhone SE (2022) home button. It is unclear whether all models in the series will be equipped with the redesigned button.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max introduced the Action Button this year, offering expanded functionality beyond the traditional use of switching between vibrate and ring modes. The Action Button on these models allows users to toggle various settings, launch apps, and enable/disable features. The reported shift to a capacitive button for the iPhone 16 series suggests the potential for detecting different pressure levels, providing more nuanced control. However, enthusiasts will need to wait until 2024 when Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 series to experience these changes.
