Apple is reportedly preparing to drop the Action Button from its upcoming 20th anniversary iPhone, a move that would mark the first time an iPhone control has been removed since the mute switch was phased out. Android Headlines reported that the company will ditch the Action Button starting with new iPhone models in the second half of next year, with the anniversary device being the first to see the change. The button’s function would be integrated into a camera control, where a single tap launches the camera and a long press performs the Action Button’s custom actions.
This development is significant not just for what it signals about Apple’s hardware strategy, but for what it reveals about the utility of a feature that was once positioned as a flagship innovation. The Action Button, introduced in 2023 with the iPhone 15 Pro, was a departure from Apple’s traditionally conservative approach to physical controls. It replaced the much-missed mute switch. Now, just a few years later, it appears the experiment may be ending, with Apple seemingly concluding that the button’s usage did not justify its inclusion in future models.
The Action Button’s Brief and Troubled History
The Action Button’s origins trace back to September 2022, when it first debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra. The feature was later brought to the iPhone with the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, where pressing and holding it offered a quick way to launch one action or, via the Shortcuts app, multiple ones.
Yet the implementation on the iPhone was, from the start, a bit peculiar. A single press did nothing more than display a message prompting the user to press and hold. This quirk, combined with the fact that nearly all of the Action Button’s functions could already be replicated using a Lock Screen icon or the Shortcuts app, may suggest its usage was not high enough for Apple to prioritize it on future models.
Android Headlines noted that the Action Button’s settings and design have barely changed since its launch. This lack of evolution suggests that either Apple was satisfied with the feature as-is or, more likely, that internal usage data failed to show compelling reason to invest further in its development.
Apple may drop the iPhone's Action Button next year, and the rumor says it merges into Camera Control. Here's what you need to know. This is a follow-up to the earlier iPhone 18 leaks, and it points to the 2027 iPhones. MacRumors reported on November 6 that Apple plans to merge… https://t.co/UDqDqcHRcS pic.twitter.com/8mX6SRhFVA
The decision to phase out the Action Button also coincides with the launch of the iPhone Duo, Apple’s new split-release strategy. The Action Button was notably absent from this new lineup, a strong indication that Apple was already reevaluating its place in the iPhone’s design hierarchy. Whatever the usage figures are, they were apparently not high enough to make finding space for the Action Button on the iPhone Duo a priority.
Camera Button Replaces Action Button
If the leak is accurate, the Action Button’s functionality will be folded into a camera control. This button would reportedly offer a two-stage interaction: a single tap to launch the camera, and a long press to trigger the Action Button’s custom actions. The camera button in question is presumably the iPhone’s existing Camera Control, which already launches the camera with one tap and activates Visual Intelligence with a long press.
APPLE BUTTON RETRACTION: Apple rumored to drop dedicated Action Button from future Pro iPhones, merging shortcuts into Camera Control. 📱🔘🍎
This integration brings up practical issues with the transition. Visual Intelligence is a specific function, whereas the Action Button was designed to be a blank slate for user customization. Apple has not clarified how, or if, this new button will support the full range of Shortcuts that the Action Button currently does.
For users, the change could be jarring. The mute switch, which the Action Button replaced, was a simple, reliable control with a clear function. The Action Button, for all its customization potential, never quite filled that void.
On the technical side, the Action Button’s removal also highlights a broader trend in Apple’s design philosophy: the shift toward software-driven solutions over dedicated hardware. Features like Shortcuts and the Lock Screen have made it possible to replicate many physical button functions digitally.
What the Removal Means for Developers and the Ecosystem
If usage data shows that the Action Button was not widely used, its removal frees up internal space and simplifies the device’s design.
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year https://t.co/mFTkyy2oTB pic.twitter.com/7WSRkrYf6k
The Leaker’s Track Record and What’s Next
The report comes from Instant Digital, a tipster who posted the news on Weibo. Weibo leakers do not have a great track record, and Instant Digital has sometimes shared content that appears more like wishful thinking than genuine leaks. This caveat is important to consider, as Apple’s hardware plans are often subject to last-minute changes. The company is known for experimenting with features that never see the light of day, and the Action Button’s fate could still be in flux.
Despite the uncertainty, the leak does align with other recent developments. The Action Button’s absence from the iPhone Duo was a strong hint that Apple was reconsidering its role. A patent revealed in 2024, which suggested the possibility of multiple Action Buttons on iPhone cases rather than the device itself, indicates that the company was exploring alternative forms of the feature. This patent, along with the current rumors, suggests that Apple may be shifting the Action Button’s functionality from a built-in control to an accessory-based one.
The iPhone 20 Pro is rumored to drop the Action button. pic.twitter.com/CICpF9pyLV
If the leak is accurate, the 20th anniversary iPhone would mark the end of an era for the Action Button. It would be the first time Apple has removed a dedicated iPhone control since the mute switch was phased out, marking an important moment in the device’s design history. For users, the change would mean adapting to a new interaction model, one that prioritizes camera access over customizable shortcuts.
For now, the story remains unconfirmed. As always, the tech world will be watching closely for more details to surface. In the meantime, the speculation shows how quickly hardware can change—and how Apple’s smallest decisions can affect the entire ecosystem.
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Yearhttps://t.co/w4BIPkdYdf
