Tech News

The Next iPhone Could Have an “Action Button”

Here’s what the iPhone's action button could do.

Hey folks! So, in some of my previous stories, I’ve chatted about all sorts of Apple stuff. If you’re curious, I’ll throw the links to those stories at the end of this post, so you can check ’em out later.

But today, let’s talk about something else — phones with an action button! Yeah, you know, those handy buttons that let you do cool stuff on your phone. And guess what? I’ll also spill the beans on what could be in store for the next iPhone’s action button. Intrigued? Let’s dive in!

What is an action button?

Some smartphones come with extra action buttons or customizable keys that go beyond the standard volume and power buttons. These additional buttons are like secret superpowers, allowing you to perform specific actions or tasks with just a press.

One common type of extra action button is the “Bixby” button on certain Samsung smartphones. Bixby is Samsung’s virtual assistant, and the dedicated button lets you summon Bixby with a single press. Bixby can help you with tasks like setting reminders, answering questions, or even controlling your smart home devices.

While some users find this button handy, others prefer to remap it to launch different apps or actions, which Samsung has allowed in some of their software updates.

On some gaming-centric smartphones, you might find a “gaming mode” button that optimizes your device for gaming performance. When you activate this button, your phone may prioritize gaming-related settings, suppress notifications, and enhance graphical performance, offering a more immersive gaming experience.

Some smartphones also feature a dedicated “Google Assistant” button, giving you instant access to Google’s virtual assistant. With a press of this button, you can perform voice searches, control smart home devices, check your schedule, and much more, all with the power of your voice.

In addition to hardware buttons, some smartphones offer software-based customizable action buttons. For example, you might find options to create custom gestures or floating shortcut buttons on the screen that can trigger specific actions or launch favorite apps.

Manufacturers are always experimenting with new ways to improve user experience, so you might come across other innovative extra action buttons too. For example, some rugged or outdoor-oriented smartphones have programmable buttons that can be assigned to SOS functions, flashlights, or other emergency features.

These extra action buttons are like hidden gems, waiting for you to unlock their potential. They provide a level of personalization and convenience that can cater to your specific needs and preferences, making your smartphone experience even more tailored to you.

An action button on the next iPhone?

All eyes are on the upcoming iPhone 15 range set to launch in September! It’s gonna bring a bunch of awesome new features to the lineup, and one of the rumors is that it’ll have an action button like the one on the Apple Watch Ultra. This button might replace the old volume/mute rocker found on older iPhones.

So, there’s some exciting news! The latest iOS 17 update’s source code gives us a sneak peek at what this button can do. It looks like it’ll offer nine cool functions: Accessibility, Shortcuts, Silent Mode, Camera, Flashlight, Focus, Magnifier, Translate, and Voice Memos.

I must say, some of these features sound super handy! Silent Mode will be a great way to keep the classic vibe of the volume rocker. And having instant access to the Flashlight is gonna save us from fumbling through the Control Centre.

The Translate option could prove to be very useful when traveling. Just a press of a button could help to quickly understand what’s going on around you.

As a photography enthusiast, the Camera option really caught my attention. If it’s just a launcher, it’ll be fantastic for quickly capturing those fleeting moments.

Although I probably won’t use the Focus and Voice Memos options much, I can see how they can be very useful for those who would.

Final Words

Overall, it’s a solid upgrade, and I’m pumped about the Action button replacing the old mute switch.

The only bummer is that it might be limited to specific features; I’d love to have it work with some third-party apps I frequently use.

Fingers crossed, they might tweak that in a future software update. For now, let’s patiently wait for the devices to hit the shelves. September can’t come soon enough!

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With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

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References

iPhone 15 Pro Action Button seemingly leaked in iOS 17 code — 9 things it can do.

iPhone 15 could get an action button and here’s what it can do.

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