Apple could remove the dedicated Action button from future iPhones as part of a major hardware redesign planned for 2027. According to a leak from Chinese tipster Instant Digital, the company is considering combining the Action button’s customisable functions with the existing Camera Control button. Under the reported design, pressing Camera Control once would continue to open the camera, while holding it down would activate the function currently assigned to the Action button.
The reported change could arrive in the second half of 2027, potentially alongside Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone lineup. However, the information has not been confirmed by Apple, and the leak does not identify the exact models that could receive the redesigned controls. If implemented, the change would remove a separate physical button without necessarily eliminating the customisation features that iPhone users have come to expect.
Key Takeaways
- Apple could remove the standalone Action button from new iPhones launching in the second half of 2027.
- The company reportedly plans to merge its functionality with the existing Camera Control button.
- A single press would reportedly open the Camera app, while a long press would activate a user-assigned shortcut.
- The Camera Control button itself is expected to remain.
- The rumoured redesign comes ahead of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027.
- Apple’s iPhone Duo already provides an example of an iPhone design without a separate Action button.
- The development remains an unverified leak originating from a single tipster.
Apple Could Combine Two iPhone Buttons Into One
The latest rumour suggests Apple is considering a simpler physical control arrangement for future iPhones.
According to a November 6 report by MacRumors, tipster Instant Digital claimed on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Apple plans to merge the Action button and Camera Control into a single physical control.
The proposed arrangement would preserve the main functions of both buttons.
Users would press Camera Control once to launch the Camera app. Holding the same button would activate the customisable function currently assigned to the Action button.
This would eliminate the separate Action button while retaining its functionality through a different interaction.
The rumoured change is reportedly planned for iPhone models launching in the second half of 2027. However, the tipster has not specified whether the redesign would apply to every new iPhone or only selected models.
The distinction is important because Apple has not confirmed that the change is part of its product roadmap.
What Is Apple’s Action Button?
Apple introduced the Action button with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023.
The button replaced the traditional Ring/Silent switch that had been a familiar feature of iPhones for many years.
Unlike the older switch, the Action button allows users to assign different functions according to their preferences. Instead of being limited to changing the phone’s sound mode, it can perform several tasks through a press-and-hold interaction.
According to Apple’s support documentation, users can customise the button through Settings.
Available functions include:
- Silent Mode: Switch between Ring and Silent modes.
- Focus: Activate a selected Focus mode.
- Camera: Quickly open the Camera app.
- Flashlight: Turn on the phone’s torch.
- Voice Memos: Start recording a voice note.
- Recognize Music: Identify nearby music using Shazam.
- Translate: Access translation features.
- Magnifier: Use the iPhone camera as a magnifying glass.
- Controls: Open a selected control.
- Shortcuts: Launch an app or run a customised shortcut.
- Accessibility: Activate a selected accessibility feature.
The button is particularly useful because it provides quick access to frequently used functions without requiring users to navigate through multiple menus.
Its customisation options have also made it more versatile than the traditional Ring/Silent switch.
How the Rumoured Combined Button Would Work
The proposed design would give Camera Control two primary responsibilities.
| Interaction | Reported functionality |
|---|---|
| Single press | Open the Camera app |
| Long press | Activate the user’s assigned Action button function |
| Camera Control | Remains on the iPhone |
| Dedicated Action button | Reportedly removed |
This arrangement could allow Apple to reduce the number of physical controls while preserving much of the existing functionality.
For example, a user who currently assigns the Action button to the flashlight could potentially hold Camera Control to activate the flashlight instead of using the separate button.
The same principle could apply to Focus modes, voice recordings and other supported shortcuts.
However, Apple would need to explain how the combined control handles its different functions, particularly because Camera Control already supports several camera-related interactions.
The leak does not provide technical details about how Apple would implement the proposed arrangement.
Why Apple Might Remove the Separate Action Button
Apple has not explained why it would consider removing the Action button. However, the reported change could fit into a broader effort to simplify the iPhone’s external hardware.
1. A simpler physical design
Removing one dedicated button could make the side of the iPhone less crowded.
Apple has increasingly focused on reducing visible hardware elements while integrating more functionality into software and multifunctional controls.
Combining two buttons could support that design direction without requiring the company to remove the underlying features.
2. Fewer separate hardware components
A redesigned control arrangement could potentially reduce the number of separate physical components required in the device.
This might simplify aspects of manufacturing and assembly, although there is no confirmed information about whether Apple expects the change to reduce production costs.
3. More functions through existing controls
The Camera Control already provides access to camera functions through physical presses and touch-based interactions.
Giving it additional responsibilities could make the control more versatile, although it would also increase the importance of intuitive gesture design.
Apple would need to ensure that users can distinguish between opening the camera, changing camera settings and activating their custom shortcuts.
The iPhone Duo Already Shows a Different Button Strategy
One interesting detail behind the latest rumour is Apple’s existing iPhone Duo design.
According to Apple’s published hardware-control documentation, the iPhone Duo includes Camera Control but does not list a separate Action button.
This is relevant because it demonstrates that Apple is already using different physical control arrangements across its iPhone products.
The latest rumour suggests the company could extend that approach to additional models.
The iPhone Duo’s configuration does not prove that Apple plans to remove the Action button from future iPhones. However, it provides a useful example of how the company can retain camera access while changing the placement or availability of other controls.
Camera Control Could Become More Important
Apple introduced Camera Control with the iPhone 16 lineup in 2024.
The dedicated control was designed to make photography and video recording more accessible. Users can open the camera, take pictures, record videos and adjust selected camera settings using the physical control.
Apple’s support documentation lists several settings accessible through Camera Control, including:
- Exposure
- Depth
- Zoom
- Camera selection
- Photographic Styles
- Tone
The control also supports different pressure and touch interactions.
Adding the Action button’s functionality would give Camera Control a broader role beyond photography.
However, this could create a usability challenge. The button would need to accommodate camera operations and general iPhone shortcuts without making either experience confusing.
One important question is what happens to the existing long-press interaction used for Visual Intelligence on supported models. Apple’s software and hardware design would need to account for that functionality as well.
The Rumour Comes Ahead of the iPhone’s 20th Anniversary
Apple launched the original iPhone in 2007, making 2027 the device’s 20th anniversary.
The anniversary has generated expectations of a major redesign.
Recent reports have discussed potential changes to future iPhone displays and exterior construction, including curved-edge display designs being tested in prototypes.
The Action button rumour could fit into that broader redesign narrative, although there is no confirmation that the different reported changes are connected.
Apple has previously used major anniversaries as opportunities to introduce significant design changes. The iPhone X, released in 2017, marked the device’s 10th anniversary and introduced a major departure from the traditional iPhone design.
Whether the 2027 lineup receives a similarly significant redesign remains uncertain.
The naming of the future devices is also unclear. Reports have used different possibilities for Apple’s anniversary iPhone, and the company has not announced its product names.
What This Could Mean for Existing iPhone Users
If Apple introduces the proposed change, the biggest difference for users would be the physical location of their customisable shortcut.
People who frequently use the Action button for the flashlight, Silent Mode or Shortcuts might need to adjust to activating those functions through Camera Control instead.
There could be advantages and disadvantages.
Potential advantages:
- One fewer dedicated button on the device.
- A cleaner external design.
- Customisable shortcuts could remain available.
- More functionality could be integrated into an existing control.
Potential disadvantages:
- Users would lose a separate physical shortcut button.
- Camera Control would become responsible for more interactions.
- Some users could find the new gesture arrangement less intuitive.
- Camera and shortcut functions could become more complicated to manage.
The biggest question is whether Apple can make the combined control feel as straightforward as the two separate buttons.
For users who rely heavily on the Action button, retaining its functionality will matter more than simply reducing the number of physical controls.
The Bigger Picture
Apple’s reported plan reflects a broader smartphone design trend: manufacturers are trying to deliver more functionality through fewer physical components. Buttons, gestures, software shortcuts and touch-sensitive controls are increasingly being combined to simplify device designs.
However, removing a physical control does not automatically improve the user experience. A dedicated button provides a clear and predictable way to access a feature. Combining multiple functions into one control can save space, but it can also introduce additional gestures and learning requirements.
For Apple, the challenge will be balancing a cleaner design with the convenience that made the Action button useful in the first place. If the company moves forward with the change, the success of the redesign will depend on how naturally users can access both camera functions and their personal shortcuts.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Apple removing the iPhone Action button?
Apple has not confirmed its removal. A November 2026 leak suggests that the company could eliminate the separate Action button and merge its functionality with Camera Control in future iPhones.
2. When could Apple remove the Action button?
The rumour points to the second half of 2027. The exact launch date and affected iPhone models have not been confirmed.
3. Will Camera Control also disappear?
No. According to the leak, Camera Control will remain. It is the separate Action button that could be removed.
4. How would the combined button work?
A single press would reportedly open the Camera app, while a long press would activate the function assigned to the Action button.
5. Which iPhone introduced the Action button?
Apple introduced the Action button with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023.
6. What functions does the Action button support?
Users can assign functions such as Silent Mode, Focus, Flashlight, Camera, Voice Memos, Translate, Magnifier, Accessibility and Shortcuts.
7. Has Apple confirmed the 2027 iPhone redesign?
No. The reported button change is based on an unverified leak. Apple has not officially announced its 2027 iPhone hardware plans.
Looking Ahead
The reported removal of the Action button could become one of several hardware changes associated with Apple’s 2027 iPhone lineup. If the company combines the Action button with Camera Control, it would retain the ability to launch custom shortcuts while reducing the number of separate physical controls. However, the leak does not establish which models will receive the change or whether Apple has finalised the design.
For now, iPhone users should treat the report as an early indication of a possible design direction rather than a confirmed product feature. Apple’s eventual implementation, if any, will determine whether combining the two controls makes the iPhone more convenient or simply replaces a useful dedicated button with a more complicated interaction.
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