iOS 17 Developer Beta Gives Insight Into Potential Functionality of iPhone 15 Pro’s ‘Action Button’
The discovery of code snippets in the latest developer beta of iOS 17 indicates the presence of a fresh feature called the ‘Action Button’ and its potential integration with the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models, slated for a September release this year.
As spotted by MacRumors, Apple has released the fourth developer beta of iOS 17 to developers, and it may have confirmed a new hardware feature coming to iPhone 15 Pro models in a few months.
The iPhone 15 Pro models were previously predicted to feature solid-state volume buttons alongside the alleged function button to replace the traditional mute switch that has been on the iPhone since the original iPhone in 2007. However, analysts such as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo have since predicted that the solid-state buttons will be delayed until the iPhone 16 series. That said, a revamped mute switch/function button – could still be included in the iPhone 15 Pro models.
The fourth developer beta code suggests that the Action Button may support nine different options that users can customize and assign to different actions. These include: Ease of use, shortcuts, silent mode, camera, flashlight, focus, magnifying glass, translation and voice memos.
Previous reports have claimed that the Action Button could allow users to perform various actions and access settings without unlocking their devices. It also allows users to mute calls, take screenshots, and launch Siri. This marks a move from the current mute button, which can only be used to silence incoming calls and notifications.
The iPhone 15 series is expected to launch in September, but recent reports have indicated that Apple may start selling the phones in October due to a display shortage.
