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

[Steve686]

Not the same thing at all. In my pocket, I can check it without breaking eye-contact with the person I'm meeting. Why not have both?

If you can’t check before you meet someone, you have tougher issues to deal with?

 

[Steve686]

I think you answered your own question. Currently one can check if the phone is muted without even looking at it. You can just put your hand in your pocket and feel the switch position. In the future you’ll have to take it out of your pocket and look at the screen, and in some contexts this might be almost as inappropriate as the phone ringing.

Goodness lord. Just check before you pocket your phone. I don’t get, at all, why people can‘t do a simple task WHILE their phone is being used and before it is put away into a pocket.

And seeing as it is so,easy to check the switch which I may guess the phone is not cased, it’s as easy to nudge the switch on/off accidentally when removing or putting into your pocket. The volume buttons will have Taptic signals to clarify mute on/off…all while in your pocket.

The absurdity not wanting to removing a button for mute is almost as bad as it was when the HOME button was removed. People,literally lost their minds and refused to buy another iPhone. Well, here we are several iterations of iPhone later and here they are, too.

Move on.

 

[sorgo †]

Peter Griffin said it.

 

[The Game 161]

be cool if you could zoom in with the new periscope lens with this or something like that

 

[mlwarren0]

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

You do realize that you can currently assign mute functions to the phone via the accessibility settings using the Back Tap function without using the mute button. Software support for muting the phone is already there, it is not being utilized as you suggested.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

100% agree with this!!!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1632054333293359105

 

[raindogg]

I tried an Android twice, the two things I missed most about the iPhone were iMessenger and the Mute switch. So simple but I use it all the time.

 

[wnrch]

They sure didn’t have an issue with it when the original iPhone, the iPhone 3G, and the iPhone 3GS, along side all iPod Touches for its first six years and the first four iPads *all* had unified buttons.

Maybe they had and that's why Apple changed it...

 

[vallfjallet]

Not the most important thing but I really like the current mute switch.

I dislike it. The phone goes into mute mode by accident all the time because the phone wiggles a bit in the leather Apple case

 

[nicthenerd]

It sure is a change… a bad one! Right now you can check that your phone is indeed muted without looking at the screen and with a glimpse to the side. If they remove the switch it will be far more likely that the phone starts making noise in an inappropriate moment embarrassing the owner.

They could easily put a light indicator in the mute button.

 

[Jamie0003]

You do realize that you can currently assign mute functions to the phone via the accessibility settings using the Back Tap function without using the mute button. Software support for muting the phone is already there, it is not being utilized as you suggested.

That’s not an automation. I don’t want to mute my phone manually, completely missing my point.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Goodness lord. Just check before you pocket your phone. I don’t get, at all, why people can‘t do a simple task WHILE their phone is being used and before it is put away into a pocket.

And seeing as it is so,easy to check the switch which I may guess the phone is not cased, it’s as easy to nudge the switch on/off accidentally when removing or putting into your pocket. The volume buttons will have Taptic signals to clarify mute on/off…all while in your pocket.

The absurdity not wanting to removing a button for mute is almost as bad as it was when the HOME button was removed. People,literally lost their minds and refused to buy another iPhone. Well, here we are several iterations of iPhone later and here they are, too.

Move on.

The funny thing is that this should in theory actually make it *easier* to know your phones muted.
With automations, if “mute and unmute phone” was allowed, I could easily make it to where, when I get to work/school/if I literally just leave the house, the phone mutes itself. When I get home, the phone unmute itself.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

be cool if you could zoom in with the new periscope lens with this or something like that

I didn’t even think about remapping the button…
Orientation lock here I come… please?

 

[_Spinn_]

I don’t like this at all. Don’t touch my mute switch.

 

[dsut4392]

Are they trying to make iPhone 15 capable of being an underwater camera?

The complete opposite. Capacitative buttons and touch-screens don't work underwater.

 

[orev]

Well, the mute button + automation might be an option for folks who use Focus mode a lot. But what about those who don't?
Right now I can toggle this switch on and off even without looking and I can check what state it's in even without looking! How will I be able to check this if it is a button without looking at my phone's display? The switch just makes much more sense to me.

The switch already allows you to check the state without feeling the position--you flip it one way and it vibrates to indicate it's in silent mode, and flip it the other way and it does nothing. This can easily be done with a button as well, where it vibrates with one type of feedback for noisy mode and a different vibration for silent mode. This is very easy.

Also, currently the switch is so small that I really don't believe anyone who says that they can tell what state it's in just by feel, because the difference in position is about 1mm. You always have to switch it off/on to get the feedback vibration so you know what mode it's in.

My phone hasn't come off mute/vibrate in years.

Good for you. You're not required to respond to every thread, especially if it doesn't apply to you.

Just getting the phone out of my pocket I could hit that "button". After all, I flip the mute switch every once in awhile by mistake.

I'd rather they took the mute away altogether. As for muting it, just turn the volume all the way down and it's the same thing.

If you're flipping the mute switch already, then nothing will change for you. If you're current method of handling something is always randomly pushing buttons/switches, not sure what you expect Apple to do about that.

Turning the volume down doesn't apply to the ringer/notifications, as most people would have "change with buttons" turned off.

It could be cool too if you can slide on it too for volume like the bluetooth headset I have.

That would be awful. Every slight tap and movement on the volume are would cause the volume to change. Your headset is not constantly being handled and going in/out of pockets all the time, so it doesn't need to be designed for that situation.

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 😆

Same. I think Apple is considering this because the ease of use that a switch offers is really just not there anymore.

The complete opposite. Capacitative buttons and touch-screens don't work underwater.

I highly doubt this will be capacitive. Pressure sense ala 3D touch is more likely, so it will work through cases.

 

[bobcomer]

If you're flipping the mute switch already, then nothing will change for you. If you're current method of handling something is always randomly pushing buttons/switches, not sure what you expect Apple to do about that.

Not having the switch there would fix that problem quite nicely. And I don't intentionally hit switches and buttons randomly...

Turning the volume down doesn't apply to the ringer/notifications, as most people would have "change with buttons" turned off.

You're right, I have confused that with my android phone. (I have both)

 

[fourthtunz]

The iPhone 4s also only had a 3 1/2 inch screen and was like half the volume of most modern iPhones.
Imagine trying to just turn off a 14 Pro Max one handed and having to reach all the way to the top.
I’d have trouble doing it on my 12 Mini.
Your fingers already naturally wrap around the sides of the phone, especially a big phone, so having a button only slightly above where your fingers are on the side makes sense

I guess I don't turn my iPhone 13 pro max off very often or need to do it one handed but,
different strokes.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I guess I don't turn my iPhone 13 pro max off very often or need to do it one handed but,
different strokes.

And the majority of people unlock their phone between 100-150 times a day.
And I’m going to assume that the majority of those people also don’t wait for the phone to auto lock itself.

 

[orev]

I guess I don't turn my iPhone 13 pro max off very often or need to do it one handed but,
different strokes.

When people say "off", they usually mean "put to sleep so random touches don't activate apps, etc. when in a bag or pocket". Not the literal "power down".

 

[fourthtunz]

And the majority of people unlock their phone between 100-150 times a day.
And I’m going to assume that the majority of those people also don’t wait for the phone to auto lock itself.

I just found it easier to sleep one handed and not take a screen shot with the 4s.

 

[fourthtunz]

When people say "off", they usually mean "put to sleep so random touches don't activate apps, etc. when in a bag or pocket". Not the literal "power down".

right but to sleep the iPhone you don't need both buttons so you can do that one handed,
but you have a chance of taking a screen shot.
I was just saying it was easier with the 4s because you could use your index finger,
because the power button was on top.
Never have understood why they put the buttons across from each other but oh well.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

right but to sleep the iPhone you don't need both buttons so you can do that one handed,
but you have a chance of taking a screen shot.
I was just saying it was easier with the 4s because you could use your index finger,
because the power button was on top.
Never have understood why they put the buttons across from each other but oh well.

OK, then look at the size of the iPhone 4, then look at the size of any modern iPhone besides the mini or SE.
They’re massive, 99% of people wouldn’t even be able to reach their index finger up to the power button on top.

 

[fourthtunz]

OK, then look at the size of the iPhone 4, then look at the size of any modern iPhone besides the mini or SE.
They’re massive, 99% of people wouldn’t even be able to reach their index finger up to the power button on top.

Ok, just telling you what I prefer. I still have a 4s and a 13 pro max I don’t have large hands
and can easily reach the top one handed the 13.