Last year, Apple introduced the new Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Later, the company expanded this feature to all iPhone 16 series models. Now, a recent report from Patently Apple, based on a newly published patent application from Apple, reveals that future iPhone, iPad, and Mac models could also feature the Action button.
Apple’s patent suggests that upcoming devices may include multiple Action buttons. This development could significantly enhance user interaction, as the company is exploring the possibility of making volume rockers on future iPhones programmable. The patent highlights that these buttons would offer haptic feedback through motors, providing users with a tactile response when pressed.
The report indicates that Apple is not limiting the Action button to just the iPhone. The company is reportedly considering adding these buttons to other devices like the iPad and Mac as well. However, the integration of this feature in these devices may not happen immediately.
Apple’s focus on the Action button is part of its ongoing effort to improve the user experience across its product range. The Action button allows users to assign customizable functions, enhancing the convenience of device interaction. If Apple moves forward with this concept, the ability to assign different actions to the volume rockers could further increase the versatility of the device.
The inclusion of haptic motors in the new buttons would give users a more tactile and responsive experience. This feature could improve the overall usability of the device, making it easier for users to interact with their devices without having to look at them. The feedback from the haptic motors would act as a subtle yet effective way to confirm button presses.
While the report is promising, it is important to note that the patent application is just one step in Apple’s development process. The company may decide to refine or even abandon the idea before introducing it to market. Therefore, even though the Action button could appear on future iPhones, iPads, and Macs, there’s no guarantee it will happen in the near future.
Apple is known for pushing the boundaries of innovation, and the Action button is a clear example of this. The company has previously redefined user interfaces with features like the Touch Bar on MacBooks and the Force Touch trackpad. With the Action button, Apple aims to streamline device interaction and offer users a more personalized experience.
While Apple’s new patent suggests exciting possibilities for future devices, we will have to wait and see how quickly these changes make their way to market. The implementation of multiple programmable buttons, along with haptic feedback, could make future Apple devices more efficient and user-friendly, but the timeline for such innovations remains uncertain.
For those unfamiliar, the Action Button on the latest iPhones allows users to quickly access any function with a simple press. This customizable button can launch apps, as well as activate features such as Voice Memos, Focus, Translate, and various accessibility options.
As with most Apple patents, it remains unclear whether the tech giant is simply patenting the technology or if it has concrete plans to add more configurable buttons and expand the feature to its other devices. However, considering Apple’s trend of gradually introducing more buttons to its mobile phones in recent years, such as the Camera Control button, we may eventually see iPhones equipped with multiple customizable buttons.
