The entire iPhone 16 lineup will include the user-configurable Action button that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to a report from MacRumors.
The publication says it has seen “extensive evidence” confirming that Apple is planning to equip the entire iPhone 16 lineup with an Action button.
The Action button replaces the mute switch previously found on all iPhone models. While the mute switch was a one-trick pony, the Action button allows iPhone users to configure it to perform a range of functions, including:
- Silent Mode: Toggle silent mode, which mutes/unmutes the ringer and alerts much like the Ringer switch on older iPhone models.
- Flashlight: Turn the iPhone’s flashlight function on or off.
- Camera: Launch the Camera app to your choice of photo, selfie, video, portrait, or portrait selfie mode.
- Shortcuts: Open a shortcut from the Shortcuts app, allowing for a range of powerful functions.
- Voice Memo: Start or stop recording a voice memo.
- Focus: Enable or disable a specific Focus mode.
- Accessibility features: Enable or disable any of a variety of accessibility features and settings for users with impaired vision or hearing.
- Magnifier: Use your iPhone’s camera as a magnifying glass through the Magnfier app.
- Translate (coming in iOS 17.2): Quickly translate speech between two languages.
Apple has plans to add even more functionality to the Action button by changing it from a mechanical button to a capacitive-type button. The new version of the Action is expected to function similarly to the Touch ID Home button on older iPhone models, or the Force Touch trackpad found on recent MacBooks.
The report says the documentation they’ve seen shows that the updated Action button will feature a force sensor, which detects changes in pressure, as well as “tact-switching functionality.” A new “Capture” button for the iPhone 16 lineup will also boast the same functionality as the improved Action button.
Apple is also expected to include the Action button on the next iteration of the low-end iPhone SE fourth-generation reportedly planned for a 2025 launch.
While MacRumors is a reliable source for reports like this, there is almost a year until Apple unveils the iPhone 16 lineup. Plans can change, and the Action button may not be included across all iPhone 16 models.
