Apple is reportedly preparing to simplify the physical interface of its flagship smartphone by removing the Action button as part of a major 20th-anniversary redesign. According to a report from leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, the 2027 iPhone Pro will likely consolidate its physical inputs, migrating the shortcuts currently assigned to the Action button into a multi-purpose Camera Control interface.
The change is expected to coincide with a significant hardware overhaul marking two decades since the original iPhone’s debut. This “anniversary merger” of buttons appears to be driven by a shift toward a “quad-curved” display. According to reporting from 9to5Mac, this rumored screen technology would wrap around all four edges of the device, significantly reducing the flat surface area on the frame where traditional mechanical switches currently reside.
The Shift to a Multi-Tool Input
Under the proposed design, the Camera Control button—introduced in the iPhone 16 series—would evolve into the device’s primary physical multi-tool. Instant Digital suggests that while a light press or slide would still manage photography tasks, a long-press on the same capacitive surface would trigger the custom shortcuts previously handled by the Action button, such as toggling Silent Mode, the Flashlight, or accessibility features like Magnifier.
This consolidation raises questions about how Apple will manage overlapping software triggers. The Camera Control button already utilizes long-presses for “Visual Intelligence” features in current models. Merging Action button functionality into this space would require a sophisticated haptic and pressure-sensitive hierarchy to prevent accidental triggers.
The Revival of Solid-State Ambitions
The removal of the Action button aligns with Apple’s long-documented interest in “Project Bongo,” an internal initiative aimed at replacing mechanical, moving parts with solid-state haptic surfaces. While Apple reportedly scrapped plans to debut solid-state buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro due to technical hurdles, the 2027 redesign may finally realize a chassis with fewer physical apertures.
This move mirrors the design philosophy of the iPhone X, which launched in 2017 to mark the device’s 10th anniversary. Just as the iPhone X overhauled the user interface by removing the Home button in favor of gesture navigation, the 2027 model appears poised to phase out secondary side buttons in favor of a more unified, glass-heavy aesthetic.
Despite the move toward a more seamless frame, users should not expect a completely uninterrupted “slab of glass” just yet. While some early rumors suggested a hole-less display with under-screen sensors, newer leaks from Digital Chat Station indicate that the 2027 Pro models will likely retain a visible cutout for the front-facing camera and Face ID sensors, maintaining the Dynamic Island or a similar punch-hole architecture.