Apple

Rumour: iPhone 17 Pro May Combine Action and Volume Buttons

Highlights

Rumours suggest Apple might merge the Action button and Volume Keys into a single button.
Apple is expected to experiment with customizable button placement
Could introduce these changes in the upcoming iPhone 17 series.

Apple is testing an iPhone 17 Pro with a new button. (Image – Apple)

iPhone 16 series was launched with the new Camera Control Button as one of the main highlights. It gives quick access to the camera and camera settings. The button basically turns your iPhone into a handheld camera.

The Camera Control button follows the Action button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year. After the introduction of the Camera and Action button, all iPhone 16 models come equipped with both the Camera Control and Action buttons.

Many experts have already pointed out that the entire button system of iPhones will evolve eventually. It has been also speculated that how iPhone buttons look and work may also change in future. Now, recent rumours in the tech community are hinting that things will change as soon as the next iPhone.

The recent rumours suggest Apple is in the process of replacing the Action button and Volume Keys with a single button.

This might sound unusual at first to some of our readers. However, it aligns with previous reports about Apple experimenting with new button designs.

From what I’ve been told, it looks like Apple is testing an iPhone 17 Pro with a new button that will replace the volume buttons and the action button that have been removed.

Full Article: pic.twitter.com/L58qJBHD3k

— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) September 30, 2024

The recent rumour comes from a trusted leaker Majin Bu on X (previously Twitter), known for rightfully breaking many updates in the past. He had accurately predicted the display sizes for the Apple Watch Series 10 just before its release.

We know from previous reports that Apple is already working on the iPhone 17 series, which will include a slim iPhone 17 Air model.

If the recent rumours hold any air of truth, this new button design could be part of their plans as well.

It was also hinted that the unified button would function like the Camera Control button. It might include a sapphire crystal for touch detection and a force sensor to differentiate between taps or swipes. Users could mute the phone, adjust the volume, or trigger other actions, all with a single button.

Earlier reports suggested Apple considered merging the Volume and Action buttons during the iPhone 16’s development, under internal projects codenamed “Project Atlas” and “Project Bongo.”

While that plan clearly didn’t see the light of day, there is a slight chance that the Cupertino giant could even resurface that plan with the iPhone 17 Pro.

There’s even speculation that users might be able to customize button placement. The Camera Control and the rumoured Action-Volume button could be interchangeable. If true, this would help left-handed users and they would be able to position the buttons more conveniently.

The current rumours suggest some significant iPhone 17 Pro button design is on the cards. It will be interesting to see how things end up eventually. We can expect more leaks in the coming months.

FAQs

Q1. What new button features are introduced in the iPhone 16 series?

Answer. The iPhone 16 series features a new Camera Control button for quick access to camera functions, in addition to the existing Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Q2. What rumours are circulating about the button design in future iPhone models?

Answer. Rumours suggest that future iPhones might feature a single multifunction button replacing the Action button and Volume Keys, with possible customizable placement to aid left-handed users.