Apple iPhone 20 May Ditch Action Button for Combined Camera Control

Tech giant Apple may eliminate the dedicated Action button on future smartphone models, opting instead to merge its functionality with the Camera Control starting next year. According to information shared on Weibo by the leaker known as Instant Digital, the upcoming redesign will combine the two features into a single physical interface.

Under the rumored layout, a single press would launch the camera application, whereas a long press would execute the specific function currently assigned to the Action button. The dedicated Action button would be removed entirely, while the Camera Control interface would stay.

Potential Design Shifts for Future Apple Devices

The conceptual layout aligns with how both features currently operate. The Action button, which requires a long press, predates the Camera Control. Meanwhile, a single press of the Camera Control opens the camera. Moving the customizable action to the Camera Control location would preserve both interactions.

A long press of Camera Control currently opens Visual Intelligence, but that capability has been integrated directly into the Camera app as Siri mode in iOS 27. This integration could allow Apple to reassign the gesture while keeping Visual Intelligence available through the camera application.

Apple introduced the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023 to replace the traditional Ring/Silent switch. Instant Digital reported that the proposed modifications will roll out beginning with new phone models launched in the second half of 2027, coinciding with upcoming anniversary releases.