Apple Might Kill another iPhone Physical Button Next Year

Apple has a long history of giving us hardware features only to take them away once they change their minds about device design, and it looks like the Action button might be the next target on the chopping block. According to a new supply chain rumor from a prominent tech leaker on Weibo, Apple is planning a pretty massive button shakeup for the iPhone lineup launching in 2027. The report claims that the Cupertino giant will completely eliminate the dedicated Action button which we first got on the iPhone 15 Pro and still see on the iPhone 18 Pro in favor of a cleaner, more streamlined frame.

But don’t panic if you rely on that button for your daily shortcuts, because Apple isn’t totally killing the feature. Instead, the rumor points to Apple merging the Action button’s capabilities directly into the Camera Control. The interaction would basically split based on how you press it: a single click would still launch your camera, while a press-and-hold gesture would trigger whatever custom macro you have assigned, like toggling the flashlight or opening a favorite app.

This move makes a lot of sense when you look at Apple’s obsession with minimalism and design efficiency. Consolidating the two inputs frees up internal space, improves water resistance, and fixes the common complaint that the sides of modern iPhones have gotten way too crowded with accidental presses. If this rumor holds true, we’ll see a much sleeker chassis when Apple officially pulls the curtain back on the 2027 iPhone lineup.