Apple Tweaks iPhone 16 Pro Action Button Design as Early Development Continues

[Makayla]

The action button itself is a minor positive change to me but Apple needs to not make such a big deal of it.

 

[macjoshua]

The only time I use the action button is when I'm trying to turn up the volume and hit the wrong button.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

Putting aside something like a totally new type of device (a foldable or something of that like) what exactly are you wanting them to change?
Really the only thing they can do is slightly change the shape in the materials, which they have done over and over and over again.
Rounded aluminum, rounded plastic, flat glass and stainless steel, flat glass and aluminum, rounded glass and rounded aluminum with plastic edges, curved aluminum glass, curved stainless steel and glass, oval camera bumps, square camera bumps, circle camera bumps, slightly curved titanium and glass…

I’m not sure what else you want them to do, there’s a limit to what can be done to a screen that fits in your pocket.
As for those other devices you mentioned…
iMac didn’t get a design update between 2012 and 2021. Eight years!
The MacBook Air didn’t get a design update between 2010 and 2018, another eight years.
Between 2010 and 2018, the iPhone went from the iPhone 4 to the XS and XR, it very much changed design quite a bit.

I said specifically I didn't expect any new wow features. I just want a new design language every so often. So yes, that amounts to playing with colors / materials / shapes etc. Really I'd love some bigger changes like finding a way to get rid of the camera bump but I don't expect something like that to happen.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I said specifically I didn't expect any new wow features. I just want a new design language every so often. So yes, that amounts to playing with colors / materials / shapes etc. Really I'd love some bigger changes like finding a way to get rid of the camera bump but I don't expect something like that to happen.

They change the colors every year and have changed the material and shape quite frequently, usually every three to four years.

Agree about the camera bump, but it doesn’t seem to bother most people.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

They change the colors every year and have changed the material and shape quite frequently, usually every three to four years.

Agree about the camera bump, but it doesn’t seem to bother most people.

I had no problem with the cadence of iPhone design updates until now (since the 12 I mean). iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and now looks like 16 are all basically the same. If we had something like the move from the 4 / 4s to the 5 / 5s that would be fine, it doesn't have to be as big as the change from 3G / 3Gs to the 4 / 4s or anything like that.

That said, as soon as there is some sort of major design update I'll probably buy again. (And hopefully they still have a not-way-too-big option at that point.)

 

[CarAnalogy]

Without Jony they no longer know what to do with the buttons ☹️

Jony always told them exactly where they can put their ****ing buttons…

 

[reekrish]

I'm in the minority, but whenever I decide I'm done with my 13 mini I'll try to find a refurbished 15 Pro. Not enthused about phone sizes increasing even more with the iPhone 16.

I'm also not excited about size increases. I have the 13 pro max right now and wish I'd gone with the smaller 13 pro. I don't plan to upgrade to the 16 this year. Maybe enough of the pro features will be incorporated into the 17 in 2025, that way I can get the 6.1 display.

 

[reekrish]

I'd love to see:
-the Action Button become--or at least incorporate--a fingerprint sensor
-an option to disable the left-swipe for camera on the lock screen, way too easy to engage and it happens all the time for me
-keep the 6.1 display for the regular pro

I'm waiting to see what the 17 brings!

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Well if it’s not the most pro iPhone they’ve ever made I’m not buying it. So they’ve got their work cut out for them.

Well it will be the most pro iPhone they’ve ever made, just like every other year. Whether or not you buy it is up to you.

 

[steve09090]

Wow. The comments are here are super innovative. Whinge whinge…

Apple are making an updated iPhone. They are not trying to make something entirely new. They are not trying to innovate the hell outa this thing; they are doing an update.

If you want to see real innovation go to <mythical company> right now.

 

[MrMacintoshIII]

Alright so like everyone who wants to be wowed is getting a Vision Pro in like T-minus 5 days right??

No??

Why not? It’s what you’re looking for. Fancy, crazy, zany, wacky, fantastic, awe inspiring. What you’re asking for is there. Not here anymore. Not until iPhones can do holograms will they ever be exciting.

MAYBE if they do a two sided iPhone wafer thats the height of the screen when you swipe down on the home bar they’d have something. But at this point, jump ship to Vision Pro. The future is there.

 

[Chopper9]

Apple has been toying with the size and design of the Action button for the iPhone 16 Pro, but in the latest "Proto2" development stage, the company is sticking with a tried and true design.

Reason #276 why Apple sucks anymore.

 

[Bustycat]

I've never understood the yearly upgrade cycle. I generally keep mine for 4-5 years.

But you don't need to buy a new iPhone every year.

 

[Octavius8]

We had a "single button" in iPhone 4. Just different location but great user experience.
If the upgrade reason is a new "video button", we can begin preparing to switch to another OS.

 

[Paddle1]

I had no problem with the cadence of iPhone design updates until now (since the 12 I mean). iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 and now looks like 16 are all basically the same. If we had something like the move from the 4 / 4s to the 5 / 5s that would be fine, it doesn't have to be as big as the change from 3G / 3Gs to the 4 / 4s or anything like that.

That said, as soon as there is some sort of major design update I'll probably buy again. (And hopefully they still have a not-way-too-big option at that point.)

If they change the design just to change the design then they will eventually change it to something worse just to make it different, so I'm glad they found a design and stuck to it. It also makes people less likely to get rid of a perfectly functional device.

 

[citysnaps]

Cracks me up people getting so frothed up over a button.

 

[Fandroid killer]

Recent iPhone 16 Pro prototypes seen by MacRumors indicate that Apple has again tweaked the design of the Action button, and now it looks much like the Action button found on the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple has been toying with the size and design of the Action button for the iPhone 16 Pro, but in the latest "Proto2" development stage, the company is sticking with a tried and true design.

During the different iPhone 16 Pro development stages, Apple has tested four button configurations and two sizes for the Action button.

• Unified volume button with small Action button
• Unified volume button with large Action button and new Capture button
• Separate volume buttons with large Action button and Capture button flush with frame
• Separate volume buttons with small Action button and Capture button flush with frame (current)

The earliest known prototypes of the iPhone 16 Pro had a unified volume button and small multi-purpose Action button, both on the left side, with a power button on the right. This design was initially developed as part of Project Bongo, which was an attempt to bring haptic buttons the iPhone 15 Pro. While the project was ultimately canceled due to unsatisfactory test results and high hardware failure rates, parts of the Bongo design, namely the unified volume button, found their way onto early designs of the iPhone 16 Pro.

The second prototype variant of the iPhone 16 Pro also used a unified volume button, but it had a larger Action button that was close in size to the volume buttons. This prototype also had an additional "Capture button" on the right side below the power button.

Later prototypes (pictured above) featured separate volume buttons rather than the unified button design. With these more recent units, Apple planned to include a capacitive Action button and Capture button, both of which were flush with the frame and featured force sensor technology.

With the most recent "Proto2" design, Apple has once again changed the Action button. Apple has now adopted a smaller Action button that mirrors the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro, doing away with the larger, flush look. While it is currently unclear how this affects the future of Apple's work on a capacitive Action button, a design change as significant as this indicates it has been canceled or postponed for future iPhone iterations.

Although the information presented here accurately describes existing internal designs, it is important to note that additional design changes are always possible, and the information presented here may not reflect finalized design of the iPhone 16 Pro.

For additional information on what to expect from the 2024 iPhone lineup, check out our dedicated rumor roundups for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.



Article Link: Apple Tweaks iPhone 16 Pro Action Button Design as Early Development Continues

Solid state buttons or bust

 

[vipergts2207]

Not giving up my 13 mini until I have to.

 

[Alexndar]

Sony has always had those, I remember over a decade ago owning an incredibly tiny Sony smartphone with a side shutter button. Despite the repeated accidental touches (rather, clicks), it made sense then since the screen was like 3", but what's the need for this now? I hope it turns out to be a false rumor.

 

[TruthAboveAllElse]

If they change the design just to change the design then they will eventually change it to something worse just to make it different, so I'm glad they found a design and stuck to it. It also makes people less likely to get rid of a perfectly functional device.

Apple should want people to upgrade perfectly functional devices.

I think any change they might make would be subjective enough that even if some thought it was slightly worse others would think it was slightly better.

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Getting harder and harder to get excited about any updates for years to be honest.

That’s why Steve Jobs warned to never put a business first person in charge of a company. Cool cares about cost reduction & bigger profit margins. Which is why we have the same design since the iPhone 12 & lack of innovation.

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

I will not buy a new iPhone so long as the design is basically the same as the iPhone 12.

😂😂😂
I just said that . Once you people quit buying them then Money hungry, cost reduction in the name of making bigger profit margins Tim Cook will finally spend some money to make a new design. It cost money && takes risk to create a redesign phone .

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Apple is only focusing in buttons , I wish my iphone 12 pro max battery would last, i guess i will be forced to update.

But the iphone is now officially boring, we need a design change i am pretty much buying another phone 12 pro max with tweaks.

Apple is sinking and i am trapped in its ecosystem.

Buy a new battery 😂😂 it’s $60 && all you need is the tools to do it yourself.

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Apple should want people to upgrade perfectly functional devices.

I think any change they might make would be subjective enough that even if some thought it was slightly worse others would think it was slightly better.

He was being sarcastic 😂

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

I disagree. IF Apple was to a reasonably ergonomic camera shutter release it would be something to get excited about.

The whole point of an iPhone was to only have 1 button. The home button. Not to be adding more & more . 😂😂😂