According to a new rumour, Apple may ditch the iPhone’s Action Button next year. Tipster Instant Digital claims Apple plans to merge the Action Button with Camera Control on its iPhones starting in 2027. The idea is to reduce the number of buttons on the iPhone.
A single press of the combined button would reportedly launch the camera, while a long press could open an app, perform an assigned function or run a shortcut. This would give users a way to retain the Action Button’s customisable functionality without requiring a separate physical control.
Apple introduced the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, replacing the traditional Ring/Silent switch. The button is now available across the iPhone lineup, except for the iPhone Duo.
Combining the Action Button and Camera Control could make sense as Apple explores a major redesign for its 20th-anniversary iPhone, reportedly due in 2027. Both controls support press-based interactions and customisable functions, so consolidating them could simplify the device’s physical layout.
The Action Button’s future remains uncertain. In 2024, Patently Apple reported on a published patent application describing how Action Button functionality could be expanded to all three buttons on the left side of an iPhone. As is the case with all patents, this does not necessarily mean Apple plans to bring the concept to market.
Source: Instant Digital via MacRumors