Apple's iPhone lineup could soon lose one of its physical buttons. According to a new claim shared on Weibo, the company intends to merge the Action button with the Camera Control, creating a single multi-purpose button on iPhones arriving next year.
The Action button first debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro and remains present on the iPhone 18 Pro. However, the tipster alleges that Apple will begin phasing out the standalone Action button starting in the second half of 2027. Under the reported plan, the Camera Control would absorb its duties: a single press would launch the Camera app, while a long press would activate whatever shortcut the user has assigned to the Action button. Notably, the source emphasizes that the Camera Control is here to stay — it's the Action button that's on the chopping block.
Since the leak doesn't mention specific models, it remains unknown whether the change would roll out across the entire fall lineup or be limited to select variants. Regardless, the takeaway is that Apple could eliminate a physical button while still preserving the customization options users have come to expect.
Earlier reports have also suggested that next year's Pro iPhones may undergo a significant design overhaul, with quad-curved screens being tested in prototypes. It's still unclear whether this rumored button consolidation is connected to that broader redesign.
Source (in Chinese)
