Apple may drop the Action Button from future iPhone models, according to leaker Instant Digital. Writing on Weibo, the source claims Apple will officially phase out the button starting with new iPhones in the second half of next year. If Apple maintains its split launch schedule, the 20th anniversary iPhone 20 range would be the first to lose it.
Rather than reviving the mute switch, Apple reportedly plans to integrate the Action Button's functions into the Camera Control button. Users would tap to launch the camera and press and hold to perform the Action Button's role. Camera Control already launches the camera with one tap, while a longer press currently activates Visual Intelligence.
The Action Button debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra in September 2022 before arriving on the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023. It replaced the mute switch but has not been significantly updated since launch. The button was absent from the iPhone Duo, and Apple never brought it to the iPad. Weibo leakers have a mixed track record, so the claim remains unconfirmed.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing