Apple iPhone 15 Pro models were released in September, featuring an all-new Action Button—essentially replacing the iconic mute switch. The button allows the user to perform a variety of actions. For instance, users can customise the button to trigger ChatGPT Voice or Google Assistant. Additionally, the user can easily set the button to open the flashlight and camera, among other functions.
Notably, Apple chose to reserve this feature only for the iPhone 15 Pro models and launched the vanilla iPhone 15 models without it. While this isn’t really a must-have feature, a new report by MacRumors suggests that the entire iPhone 16 lineup could come with the Action Button in 2024.
The publication notes that it has seen enough evidence pointing in this direction. It says that designs and plans to include the Action Button were introduced all the way back in 2021, and it was set to release alongside the haptic volume and power buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro but was canceled due to a technical issue.
With the iPhone 16 series, Apple could double down on the functionality that the button offers and may switch from a mechanical type to a capacitive one. Codenamed ‘Atlas,’ the new Action Button could get functionality that’s reminiscent of the ForceTouch trackpad found in the MacBooks and the TouchID of older iPhones.
Furthermore, it may get a force sensor, which, as the name suggests, is responsible for detecting the pressure you apply to the button, and along with it, you will get “tact-switching functionality,” but it isn’t clear what this means yet.
The publication adds that multiple early prototypes and designs of the iPhone 16 models feature the Action Button, and that Apple is experimenting with different sizes for it. On that note, nothing is confirmed yet, especially considering the Apple iPhone 15 series just launched, and the iPhone 16 is 10 months away, so the plans could always change.
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