Updated December 17: article originally published December 16.
Leaks continue to reveal the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro, and the latest look at Apple’s next iPhone reveals a major update.
iPhone 15 Pro action button
In a comprehensive analysis of current leaks, the team at MacRumors has demonstrated the size, look, feel and physical interface in a series of exclusive digital renderings. Given some leaks that suggest Apple is still keeping its options open, there are three models of the potential iPhone 16.
All three feature the action button. This user-defined button was introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, but did not appear on the vanilla iPhone 16 or 16 Plus. That’s set to change in 2024, with each new iPhone owner getting to decide what the new button can do.
All plans show that this is accompanied by loss. We’re saying goodbye to the mute switch—although mute is one of the options you can bind to the action button. There is also the question of button style. Early leaks suggested that the same physical button would come from the iPhone 15 Pro. The latest details (and its most up-to-date performance) lead Apple to a capacitive action button for 2024’s flagship iPhone.
Some of the renders show the iPhone 16 with a shutter button. This is one of the key features that Apple is still deciding on. As the name suggests, this can act as a shutter button for the camera. As a force-sensitive button, there’s also the possibility to hold a focus point and move the camera to another subject, just like more traditional physical cameras do.
The action button in some form should make it to the iPhone 16. The appearance of the camera button remains to be seen.
Tim Cook and the iPhone Pro (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Update: Sunday, December 10. Bloomberg reports on Apple’s plans for the iPhone 16, with Mark Gurman pointing out two key issues in the upcoming draft. The first is around the screen. While the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are set for a larger screen when the iOS-powered smartphones debut later in 2024, the base model iPhone 16 won’t see any changes.
While the action button is discussed, there is no mention of the possibility of a physical button or a capacitive button. More interesting is the mention of the second button. Gurman highlights the presence of a second button on the iPhone 16 and adds another function to the camera button, saying: “There will be a new dedicated button for shooting video.”
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