Back in the day, iPhones had a physical switch to go between ringing and silent mode, but with the iPhone 15, this was replaced by the Action Button. Just a year later, the iPhone 16 introduced the Camera Control button, with the two also present on the iPhone 18 Pro. A new rumor claims that this configuration may change next year, making all future models more similar to the iPhone Duo.
The iPhone 20 Pro is reportedly ditching the Action Button
Apple may overhaul the physical buttons on next year’s iPhone and remove the Action Button. According to a new post (source in Chinese) by Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the company will phase it out with the models that will be introduced in the second half of the year.
The ability to switch between ringing and silent mode with just a button won’t disappear completely. On the iPhone 20 Pro, the company may merge the Action Button’s default action with the Camera Control button, which is expected to remain in place. The leaker claims that the function assigned to the Action Button will be accessible with a long press on the Camera Control.
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The iPhone 17 Pro Max and 18 Pro Max had both buttons. | Image by PhoneArena
While it may sound ludicrous at first, this rumor could turn out to be true. On current phones, the Action Button works with a long press anyway, so the user experience won’t change drastically. There’s also nothing to lose by assigning this action to the Camera Control button.
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Currently, a long press on the Camera Control opens Visual Intelligence. Instead of removing the feature, Apple has already moved it into the Camera app and calls it Siri mode in iOS 27. A short press on the button opens up the camera, so the potential change won’t lead to a drastic change to the functionality of the two buttons.
Reactions to this rumor online were extremely mixed, demonstrating that Apple’s buttons strategy is confusing for quite a few of its users. Many people on Reddit claimed they don’t use the Action Button, while others shared their dislike for the Camera Control, even though a lot of people said they use them both.
Apple's button strategy sparks very mixed reactions among fans. | Image by Reddit (screenshot
The iPhone Duo has already ditched the Action Button
No Action Button on the foldable iPhone. | Image by PhoneArena
We’ve already seen what an iPhone without an Action Button or ring switch looks like thanks to the iPhone Duo. While Apple’s first foldable smartphone has kept the Camera Control and added Touch ID to the power button, the mute switch option is only available through the software.
However, even people inside Apple may recognize that removing the button wasn’t working in service of the Duo. According to a report from Apple insider Mark Gurman, people inside the company were looking into ways to get the button back in the iPhone Duo 2. However, its return was deemed unlikely.
This new report could be the solution to the problem, and tidy up Apple’s messy approach to physical buttons. By default the Action Button can only have one function, even though some custom Shortcuts can add a second option. That’s a waste of opportunity, as the button doesn’t support short press, nor double or triple press.
If the Action Button doesn’t get additional features, it would make sense to just move its long-press function to the button that’s already there and has a duplicate function behind the same action. This move could be the solution Apple employees were reportedly looking for, and it could be a popular one.
A change to the buttons is necessary
Action Button with just one function has always struck me as a wasted opportunity, and I won’t miss it if Apple just moves this function elsewhere. What would make me even happier would be getting the ring toggle back, but that’s certainly never going to happen.
Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.
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