The iPhone 15 lineup brought a fair share of variations compared to the iPhone 14. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus come with a Dynamic Island, upgraded cameras, and a slightly improved design from the back. However, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max features a new Action Button, a customized button for numerous functionalities. While the Action Button is still new, Apple plans to redesign it with the launch of the iPhone 16 Pro models.
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models could feature a smaller Action Button with a flushed Capture Button designed explicitly for the camera
Apple has developed a prototype of the iPhone 16 Pro that shows a redesigned Action Button, as seen by MacRumors. The company has been tweaking the Action and the Volume Button designs for its forthcoming 'Pro' models of the iPhone. Note that at this point, we are unfamiliar with Apple's implementation. The company is not only testing the Action Button's design but is also looking into the possibility of unified Volume Buttons.
According to the publication, Apple has tested four prototypes with different button layouts and designs. The button combinations are as follows:
- A smaller Action Button with unified Volume Buttons.
- Large Action Button with new Capture Button and unified Volume Buttons.
- Large Action Button with Capture Button and separated Volume Buttons.
- Small Action Button with a flushed Capture Button and separate Volume Buttons.
The company is currently testing the last option, where it will keep everything as it is and add a new Capture button, which will sit flush with the frame of the iPhone 16 Pro. The company has also tested different positions for the Action Button. Since nothing is final at this stage, the company's testing was part of its Project Bongo. The same project aimed to bring haptic buttons to the iPhone. Haptic buttons were initially rumored to arrive with the iPhone 15 Pro models, but the plan was canceled due to quality constraints.
The company was also expected to incorporate haptic buttons on the iPhone 16 Pro alongside a single elongated Volume Button. Another prototype with an enlarged Action Button was also tested where the button sat too close to the Volume Buttons. With the latest "Proto2" design, Apple is moving forward with the Action Button, which is the same size as the iPhone 15 Pro. However, the company is still looking to add a capacitive Capture Button, which will be used for camera-centric features. How the button will look in real life remains to be seen.
Apple has plenty of time to test the button layout and additional features as the iPhone 16 Pro launch is months away. As we move closer to Apple's mass production stage, we will hear more details on the buttons and the device's design.
