Technology

Every iPhone 16 model may get a new and improved ‘Action’ button

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

When Apple introduced the iPhone 14 in 2022, it had a special treat in store for customers who ponied up more money for the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models: the Dynamic Island. The feature added a cutout display where the dreaded notch once was. It instantly became a hit among users.

This year, when introducing the iPhone 15, Apple announced that all four models — iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max — would be getting the Dynamic Island. In essence, Apple was opening up a popular feature, which was once just for those who paid for the more premium models, to all iPhone users.

It seems Apple is about to repeat this strategy in 2024 when it launches the iPhone 16.

According to MacRumors, the outlet has seen “extensive evidence” that all four iPhone 16 models will have an Action button, which Apple introduced in 2023 as a new feature just for the more expensive iPhone 15 models.

The Action button has so far been a hit with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users. It replaced the single-purpose mute switch and allows users to program the button to launch the camera app, turn the flashlight on and off, record a voice memo, and much more. 

MacRumors also claims that the Action button on the iPhone 16 series of smartphones will be a “capacitive-type button” instead of a mechanical one, meaning that it will respond to pressure instead of physically moving.

The outlet does add an addendum stating that everything is in the pre-production stage right now, so things can change. However, based on how iPhone launches have gone in recent years, it does make sense that Apple would roll out the latest premium-only feature — in this case, the Action button — on the base models for the next generation of iPhones next year.

Mashable