iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup

The release of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max saw the introduction of an entirely new user-configurable button known as the Action button, and now, MacRumors has seen extensive evidence confirming Apple is planning to include the Action button on the entire iPhone 16 range.

iPhone 16 Mock Header Updated 1
Designs and plans for the Action button date back to at least 2021, as the button was intended for release alongside haptic volume and power buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro. While the haptic volume and power buttons were abruptly canceled due to unresolved technical issues, the Action button remained, eventually making its way onto final mass production units of the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and Pro Max.

On the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and Pro Max, the Action button replaces the mute switch previously found on all ‌iPhone‌ models. Unlike the mute switch, which only served a singular purpose, the Action button provides ‌iPhone‌ users with a variety of uses. It can be configured to perform a range of functions, such as:

  • Silent Mode: Toggle silent mode, which mutes/unmutes the ringer and alerts much like the Ringer switch on older ‌iPhone‌ models.
  • Flashlight: Turn the ‌iPhone‌'s flashlight function on or off.
  • Camera: Launch the Camera app to your choice of photo, selfie, video, portrait, or portrait selfie mode.
  • Shortcuts: Open a shortcut from the Shortcuts app, allowing for a range of powerful functions.
  • Voice Memo: Start or stop recording a voice memo.
  • Focus: Enable or disable a specific Focus mode.
  • Accessibility features: Enable or disable any of a variety of accessibility features and settings for users with impaired vision or hearing.
  • Magnifier: Use your ‌iPhone‌'s camera as a magnifying glass through the Magnfier app.
  • Translate (coming in iOS 17.2): Quickly translate speech between two languages.

With the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup, Apple plans to add even more functionality to the Action button by changing the button from mechanical to a capacitive-type button. The revamped Action button, developed under the codename Atlas, is expected to function similarly to the Touch ID Home button on older ‌iPhone‌ models, or the Force Touch trackpad on found on more recent MacBooks.

According to internal documentation, the updated Action button will feature a force sensor, which detects changes in pressure, as well as "tact-switching functionality," although exactly what the latter entails is currently unclear. The new "Capture" button planned for the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup is also set to include the same functionality as the improved Action button.

As with the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro, even the earliest known designs and prototypes of the base model ‌iPhone 16‌ featured an Action button. The presence of the Action button has remained constant across different development stages and even different hardware configurations.

Apple has also experimented with different sizes for the Action button, with certain hardware configurations featuring an Action button larger than the one currently found on the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro, and more closely resembling the volume buttons in size. The Action button has been seen on multiple ‌iPhone 16‌ prototype units, and has also appeared in internal documentation related to the new devices.

The Action button is also set to appear on the next iteration of the budget-oriented iPhone SE fourth-generation reportedly planned for a 2025 launch, thereby effectively eliminating the dedicated mute switch from all future iPhones currently in development.

While it remains unlikely that Apple's plans will change, it is important to consider that the information presented here is pre-production information, and may not necessarily reflect what eventually ships on mass production units as we are still many months away from finalized hardware designs.

For more details on what to expect, check out our dedicated iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro roundups.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Update for iPhones Coming Soon — Here's What to Expect

Thursday September 25, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. MacRumors has also seen evidence of iOS 26.0.1 in its visitor logs in recent days. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

Apple Responds to U.S. Class Action Lawsuit Over Delayed Siri Features

Friday September 26, 2025 6:57 am PDT by
In March, Apple delayed the launch of its personalized Siri features, and soon after the company was hit with multiple class action lawsuits over the situation. The plaintiffs said they never would have purchased an iPhone 16, or would have paid less, had they known Apple's marketing about the Siri features was false. In the U.S., all of the complaints were consolidated into one class...

Top Rated Comments

JCCL Avatar
24 months ago
The action button. 2 months later and it’s only use for me is accidentally putting my iPhone in a focus while trying to change the volume.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
75Batt Avatar
24 months ago
The action button has been nothing but irritating so far.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
24 months ago

Meh. I have the 14 pro and honestly the biggest feature I purchased it for is barely utilized. I thought live activities would be this groundbreaking feature and they never really took off to take advantage of the AOD.

Not sure if there’s a reason to upgrade if Apple and developers are not going to double down on these features. It feels like a missed opportunity.
Dynamic island and live activities is to the iPhone what the Touch Bar was for the MacBook Pro.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
revtup Avatar
24 months ago
To me the action button is gimmicky
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Born Again Avatar
24 months ago

Less moving parts, less to break, less for Apple to have to cover under warranty.
i've never had a mute switch break on me.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magicschoolbus Avatar
24 months ago
Meh. I have the 14 pro and honestly the biggest feature I purchased it for is barely utilized. I thought live activities would be this groundbreaking feature and they never really took off to take advantage of the AOD.

Not sure if there’s a reason to upgrade if Apple and developers are not going to double down on these features. It feels like a missed opportunity.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)