iPhone 16 button expansion: what the rumor mill thinks is coming

Posted:
in iPhone edited May 22

Apple added the Action button to the iPhone 15 Pro, but more could be on the way for the iPhone 16. This is what the rumor mill believes is on the way.

A render of the iPhone 16 Pro showing the rumored Capture button on the side
A render of the iPhone 16 Pro showing the rumored Capture button on the side



The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max made a big change to its selection of buttons in 2023. After years of use, the mute toggle was removed in favor of a new Action button.

That action button that could be used to perform various functions on an iPhone, not just muting the ringer. While the iPhone 15 kept the toggle, it may not be that way for long.

For the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, Apple may take things one step further, by adding another button to the mix.

This is what the rumor mill believes Apple has planned for the iPhone 16 family in the fall. At least, when it comes to buttons.

iPhone 16 to gain the Action button



Apple often introduces features in the Pro models of iPhone, which eventually trickle down to the standard editions. This could be exactly the case for the iPhone 16.

The Action button configuration menu for the iPhone 15 Pro
The Action button configuration menu for the iPhone 15 Pro



In December, a report claimed the Action button could spread throughout the entire iPhone 16 lineup. This would mean the iPhone 16 would join the iPhone 16 Pro in losing the mute toggle in favor of the button.

This rumor does make sense, given Apple's tendency to trickle down features across devices.

iPhone 16 Pro could get a Capture button



The Action button can be used as a shutter for the camera in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but it's not quite the same as the shutter button on a proper camera.

A traditional shutter button allows for a half-press to trigger autofocus, with a full press capturing the image. This is not possible with the Action button.

A CAD render for the iPhone 16 Pro showing the Capture button
A CAD render for the iPhone 16 Pro showing the Capture button



Rumors have circulated since September 2023 and repeatedly resurfaced, with various leakers proposing the button is on the way. Unlike the Action button, the Capture button will act more like a traditional shutter button.

The new button would give users the same physical control for photography on an iPhone as a digital camera, making it much easier for users to quickly start using.

There have been claims that the Capture button could be pressure-sensitive, which would lend itself to half-press functionality. It's also been proposed that the button could have touch sensitivity, with users able to change zoom level by touching it.

A mechanical switch system has also been offered by rumors. However, Apple going down that route will make things harder for case producers.

In January, The Information cited two people familiar with iPhone 16 development in confirming the Capture button is mechanical and with touch sensitivity.

iPhone 16 Capacitive buttons



Rumors for the iPhone 15 Pro promoted the idea that Apple could use capacitive buttons instead of pressable versions. The claims included using a single long capacitive button instead of two buttons for volume controls, beyond Action or Capture button changes.

The Capture button may be mechanical, but capacitive elements could add more functions.
The Capture button may be mechanical, but capacitive elements could add more functions.



In September, the rumors continued, with the use of a capacitive Capture button as well as an updated capacitive Action button. The buttons could include pressure sensors, so that buttons are counted as pressed when enough force is applied to avoid accidental presses.

However, that report insisted the volume buttons would remain mechanical buttons rather than capacitive. The sleep/wake button would also be mechanical and not capacitive.

iPhone 16 CAD and case claims



As Apple's introduction of a new iPhone generation nears, images start to surface that hint at what the iPhones could look like. This trend has certainly continued with the iPhone 16, and it has shown off what vendors think about button changes.

For example, in April, Sonny Dickson shared dummy units for the iPhone 16 range. Key to these metal models were the addition of a button on the right-hand side, further down than the current sleep/wake button.

These metal models seemingly followed a similar button placement as others introduced in March.

Assorted prop models and cases showing the Capture button placement
Assorted prop models and cases showing the Capture button placement



With the button lower down on the right-hand side, the Capture button would be placed ideally to mimic using the iPhone as a camera. A typical camera has the shutter button in the top-right corner when held in a landscape orientation, with the camera lenses tending to be towards the top left of the rear.

The same month, supposed cases for the iPhone 16 Pro appeared on X. The images showed a hollowed-out section on the side, where the Capture button would be located.

The gap in the case seemingly means the vendor believes the Capture button will be mechanical in nature.

CAD leaks in March also supported the placements of the buttons on the physical models.

While there's no guarantee that the physical models and case leaks are completely correct, it does seem that Apple will have some button-related changes arriving later in 2024.



Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    hmlongcohmlongco Posts: 550member
    Looking forward to it, but questioning when Apple is going to promote sound capture and quality? 
    Oferwilliamlondon
  • Reply 2 of 12
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 906member
    I had to agree with the Appleinsider longer term review of the 15 Pro models, when it said that the Action button was soon forgotten. That has certainly been my experience of it. I would like to see its capabilities greatly expanded, including the setting of multiple actions, depending on single, double or triple press. Why do we need a separate shutter button when the volume buttons can already be used for that task?
    Ofernubusgrandact73watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 12
    kjespokokjespoko Posts: 15member
    Count me in the group of users that has forgotten the action button. I was a day one adopter of the iPhone 15 and have used it less than handful of times. And that is to just test it and not use it in real life settings. 
    Ofergrandact73watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 12
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,612member
    An action button on Macs would make it more likely that I would buy new Macs, even though my current Mac is quite new.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 12
    I like the idea of a capacitive capture button on that edge solely for quickly launching the camera in landscape mode and sliding your finger across it to zoom in or out. Slide toward the camera for zoom in, away from the camera for zoom out. This gives us far more photos that are optimized for Vision pro than you’d normally get because we’re all so used to taking photos vertically. I wonder how social media apps will adapt to the sudden influx of primarily horizontal photos. Will reels go horizontal? Will IG be revamped? Will we all start holding our phones horizontally instead of vertically?
    Oferwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 12
    S8ER95ZS8ER95Z Posts: 11member
    I would gladly pay more to not have the action button at all. Just give me the volume buttons on the side and call it good please. 
    grandact73
  • Reply 7 of 12
    KBuffettKBuffett Posts: 96member
    The sleep/wake button needs to move back to where Jobs put it.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 12
    eightzeroeightzero Posts: 3,094member
    kjespoko said:
    Count me in the group of users that has forgotten the action button. I was a day one adopter of the iPhone 15 and have used it less than handful of times. And that is to just test it and not use it in real life settings. 
    Me too. It was one of those things that sounded useful, and in practice really wasn't. Or at least hasn't been so far. Anyone know if it can be programmed to take a photo on a simple long press while the iPhone is locked? 
    grandact73watto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 12
    Same for me. I've completely disabled the useless Action button on my phone.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 10 of 12
    kdupuis77kdupuis77 Posts: 114member
    KBuffett said:
    The sleep/wake button needs to move back to where Jobs put it.
    Where it is now definitely is more convenient for Plus and Pro Max models with their larger size at least. I think the biggest iPhones we had when Steve was still alive were similar to the regular iPhone and Pro models now.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 12
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,930member
    KBuffett said:
    The sleep/wake button needs to move back to where Jobs put it.
    Jobs didn’t do the hardware design. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 12
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,930member
    Same for me. I've completely disabled the useless Action button on my phone.
    Why would you disable what is at the least the mute button? You’d then have less functionality than the original iPhone which had a mute button. 
    602warrenwatto_cobra
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