iPhone 15 Pro Could Feature Solid-State Unified Volume Rocker, Mute Button Instead of Switch

[DaveN]

Wow, the mute button being a button instead of a switch is a game changer. This could mean automating muting the phone using Siri Shortcuts/focus modes! I have wanted software support for muting my iPhone for YEARS especially with focus modes being a thing

I’ve wanted a mute button for my co-workers for years. Well, I can dream can’t I?

 

[v0lume4]

Solid state buttons... a solution in search of a problem.

 

[ZZ9pluralZalpha]

Everyone’s saying they’re able to feel and manipulate their mute switches without looking, and here I am having to carefully aim a fingernail at it through my case 😆

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

Pfft. In 73 years of owning an iPhone, I've never used the mute switch.

 

[Wanted797]

 

[compwiz1202]

I’ve wanted a mute button for my co-workers for years. Well, I can dream can’t I?

Yea sometimes I really wish the Click Universal Remote was real.

 

[gund1234]

Nice clicky buttons are usually a much better experience. Especially buttons you want to use without looking or in your pocket. We will see how it works.

touch ID was solid state, i didn't have any issues.

 

[gund1234]

View attachment 2167787

touch ID was solid state, i didn't have any issues.
MBP trackpad is solid state, never had any issues.

 

[gund1234]

Haptic buttons I really couldn't care about. I was doubtful about the haptic home button and that haptic track pad, and both turned out beautifully. But dropping the mute switch seems like an absolute no no to me. The mute switch was one of the best, and most overlooked, UI decisions about the original iPhone. You can tell which way it's set, and turn it on or off, inside your pocket, without taking your phone out. The inability to do that was a massive problem with phones at the time. Please Apple, don't take us back to taking our phones out at the start of meetings/movies/etc, and fumbling around to make sure things are set right.

and force touch was another overlooked UI, i miss it.

 

[Wanted797]

touch ID was solid state, i didn't have any issues.
MBP trackpad is solid state, never had any issues.

They were both on the wide flat surface in an obvious and easy to locate spot.

The buttons on the side of your phone you don’t press often and may even be trying to find while in you pocket.

I’m open to Apple changing my mind and being good but I want to see it first.

Look at how well it went for Volkswagen.

 

[gund1234]

Replacing the physical switch for muting with a push button would be a serious setback. A cheaper rocker switch for volume may be functionally no different. If they change the mute switch, we will go back to the days of cell phones constantly ringing during class and meetings and movies and auditoriums.

They should consider all of the elderly people trying to use iPhones for any changes.

you should see the difference between trackpad, old MBP & New MBP, i see huge difference in usability.

 

[BadMacRumours]

The whole point of the mute switch is fast an easy. It’s not fast and easy when you’re guessing if it is or isn’t muted

Agreed. This is an absolutely garbage change and I will not be purchasing any iPhones without a physical mute switch.

 

[klasma]

The whole point of the mute switch is fast an easy. It’s not fast and easy when you’re guessing if it is or isn’t muted

The whole point of the mute switch is that you don’t toggle it accidentally. Much more likely to happen with a button.

 

[Crosshatch]

*People who always leave their phone on silent

All mine have been on silent for the past 8 years lol

 

[257Loner]

Apple products no longer conform to traditional notions of "premium" vs. "budget". They occupy a middle ground between what the customer wants, what's legal, and what's convenient for Apple.

For example, my dad lost the charger to his MacBook Air recently. The 96W power brick was $80. The Power Adapter Extension Cable that used to be included was an extra $20. The USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable was $50. So in total, it cost $150 to replace the charging cable. As old customers of Apple products, we have never felt this ripped off before. That's Apple Inc. for you. A little different from the Apple Computer, Inc. experience I remember from long ago.

 

[Cameront9]

Considering my phone is on mute 24/7/365 they can do away with the button altogether.

 

[BootsWalking]

Maybe, but non techie people would get confused if this happens to get turned on and they try to use the switch. Plus this is terrible for the user experience to have a hardware switch that can be completely ignored by software.

Me thinks the non-techie people wouldn't be aware of the software override and thus wouldn't get confused.

 

[Premium1]

So much courage and innovation coming from apple lately...

 

[Smigit]

A button, while harder to see whether muted on or not, would also likely be easier to toggle for devices in a case so it’s a. It’s a win/lose situation to me.

Personally I’d like to see them swap the switch with a button, or even two, that could then be remapped similar to the button on the Apple Watch Ultra. Mute could be a default but it’d be nice if users could map it to camera functions and the like, maybe with additional options for long press and double click. If we got a button or two people could customise I think the benefits would outweigh the loss of the physical switch.

 

[vikingjunior]

So, Solid State Gate?

 

[SFjohn]

The more I hear about the iPhone 15, the more I’m looking forward to the 15 Pro Max!

 

[svish]

Seems to be a good change.

 

[zephiK]

Not sure how I feel about the mute button being a singular button. I feel like it'll be too easy to accidentally press it when your phone is in your pocket and have your phone go from silent mode to ring mode without knowing.

 

[Truckondo]

As long as I can still use an Apple Leather case similarly to the way it works now, I ok with it.

 

[whitby]

What an amazingly bad idea….