News in short
- Apple may remove the dedicated Action button from future iPhones starting in 2027.
- A leak claims the Camera Control could take over its customisable functions.
- A single press may continue opening the Camera app, while a long press triggers the assigned Action button shortcut.
- The change could simplify the iPhone’s physical controls, but Apple has not confirmed the rumour.
Apple could change how users access shortcuts on future iPhones. A new leak claims the company may remove the dedicated Action button and combine its functions with Camera Control. The reported change could arrive with iPhone models launching in the second half of 2027.
The rumour comes from the Chinese leaker known as Instant Digital, who shared the claim in a post on Weibo. According to the leak, Camera Control would handle both camera access and the custom actions currently assigned to the Action button. Apple has not confirmed these plans, so the information should be treated cautiously.
How could Apple’s combined iPhone button work?
The reported design would use different press actions for the same physical control. A single press would open the Camera app, as Camera Control does today. A long press would activate the function assigned to the Action button.
This could preserve the familiar shortcuts while removing one separate button from the iPhone’s frame. Users currently assign the Action button to features such as Silent mode, Focus, the flashlight, translation or Shortcuts. Under the rumoured arrangement, those options could remain available through a long press of Camera Control.
Why Apple may remove the dedicated Action button
Combining the controls could simplify the iPhone’s physical layout. It may also reduce confusion between the Action button and nearby volume controls. A single multifunction button could give Camera Control a more useful role beyond launching the camera.
The report also points to a possible change in Visual Intelligence access. A long press of Camera Control currently launches Visual Intelligence. However, Apple has integrated related capabilities into the Camera app through Siri mode in iOS 27. This could give the company more flexibility to reassign the gesture, if the rumour proves accurate.
There is also a recent precedent. Apple’s iPhone Duo reportedly launched without a separate Action button, while retaining Camera Control. That device could indicate that Apple is exploring a simpler button layout across its future lineup.
Could the change arrive with the 2027 iPhone lineup?
Instant Digital claims the redesign could begin with iPhone models released in the second half of 2027. These devices may form part of Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone plans. Their final names remain unknown, and it is too early to confirm whether the change will reach every model.
Apple has also faced earlier rumours about simplifying Camera Control by removing its capacitive sensing layer and relying on pressure sensing. That change was expected for the iPhone 18 lineup but did not materialise, according to the report.
For now, the proposed button merger remains an unverified leak. If Apple adopts it, users could retain their favourite Action button shortcuts while gaining a cleaner physical layout. Read more about the latest iPhone 18 Pro lineup as Apple’s next hardware plans take shape.
Source: Instant Digital’s Weibo post.
