Apple Could Merge iPhone Action Button Into Camera Control Next Year [Rumor]

Apple could remove the iPhone's separate Action button and move its functions into Camera Control, according to a new rumor from Instant Digital on Weibo.

Under the claimed arrangement, a single press would open the camera, while a long press would trigger the function assigned to the Action button. The leaker specifically clarified that Camera Control would remain, with the dedicated button above the volume controls disappearing instead.

The post places the change in the second half of 2027 but does not identify particular models or say whether it would apply across the lineup.

Introduced on iPhone 15 Pro in 2023, the Action button replaced the Ring/Silent switch and can be assigned to tasks such as toggling Silent mode, turning on the flashlight, activating a Focus, or running a Shortcut. A press and hold activates the chosen action. The rumor would move that gesture to the camera control on the other side of the phone.

The same leaker previously claimed that Apple would simplify Camera Control for the iPhone 18 by removing its capacitive sensing layer and relying on pressure sensing. The latest post does not say whether that proposed redesign is connected to the button merger.

The current iPhone Duo already lacks a separate Action button. Apple has nevertheless been testing one for a future Duo, although its position and inclusion in the final design remain unsettled.