Related coverage
Apple released the iPhone Duo two weeks ago, and the app story is quickly taking shape. In a new statement to 9to5Mac , Apple has revealed that there are already “well over 100,000 apps” on the App Store designed for iPhone Duo, and thousands are being added each day. more…
The Action Button may soon be dropped, but if you thought that would mean getting back the much-missed mute switch, think again. The Action Button as introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro Back in 2023, the Action Button began replacing the mute switch on ever iPhones , but that stopped with the launch of the iPhone Duo . Now prolific leaker Instant Digital claims that it's about to be history. Writing on the Chinese social media site Weibo, they say ( in translation ) that "Apple's Action button... will officially be phased out starting with new iPhone models in the second half of next year." So presuming Apple sticks to its new split iPhone launch, that may mean that the 20th anniversary iPhone will be the first to lose it. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple plans to merge the iPhone's Action button with the Camera Control starting next year, according to the leaker known as " Instant Digital ." In a new post on Weibo, the leaker claimed that a single press of the combined button would open the camera, while a long press would trigger the function assigned to the Action button. They explicitly clarified that the dedicated Action button would disappear, while the Camera Control button would remain. The proposed arrangement seems plausible given how the two features already work. The Action button predates the Camera Control and requires a long press to activate its assigned function, while a single press of the Camera Control opens the camera. Combining them in the way described would therefore preserve both familiar interactions, with the customizable action simply moving to a different location on the device. A long press of Camera Control currently opens Visual Intelligence , but that feature has since been integrated directly into the Camera app as Siri mode in iOS 27 . That integration could give Apple room to reassign the gesture while keeping Visual Intelligence accessible through the Camera app. It is notable that the iPhone Duo also lacks an Action button , despite retaining Camera Control. Its omission provides a precedent for an iPhone without the separate control and could hint at a broader change in the future. The Camera Control received a mixed reception when it debuted on the iPhone 16 , with some reviewers criticizing its usefulness, complexity, and ergonomics, making further refinement seem plausible. Combining it with the Action button could give the control a clearer sense of purpose. Removing a separate button could also simplify manufacturing and reduce the potential for users to confuse the Action button with the adjacent volume buttons. Apple was previously rumored to be working on a simplified Camera Control design for the iPhone 18 lineup, but that change did not materialize. Instant Digital claimed Apple would remove the capacitive sensing layer and rely on pressure sensing to reduce costs while retaining its functions. The ‌iPhone 16‌'s Camera Control button. The latest rumor raises the possibility that a redesign is still in development, potentially as part of a broader rethink that incorporates the Action button's functionality, although it remains unclear whether the two claims describe related plans. Apple introduced the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro in 2023 as a replacement for the longstanding Ring/Silent switch. It can be assigned to functions such as Silent mode, Focus, the flashlight, Shortcuts, and more. The rumored combined control would retain a dedicated way to trigger those actions while reducing the number of physical buttons. Instant Digital said that the change will take place starting with new iPhone models released in the second half of 2027. The claimed timing would presumably coincide with the launch of Apple's 20th-anniversary iPhone models in the fall of next year. Apple's naming plans remain unclear, so the devices could be called the "iPhone 19 Pro," " iPhone 20 Pro ," or something else. Tags: 20th-Anniversary iPhone , Action Button , Camera Control , Instant Digital This article, " Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple's extended return policy went into effect today for the 2026 holiday shopping season. The policy applies to most products sold by Apple online and in its stores, with a few exceptions, including some carrier-financed iPhones and iPads. In the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and many other countries, most products purchased between November 6 and December 25 of this year may be returned through January 8, 2027, according to Apple's website . All purchases made after December 25 in those countries are subject to Apple's standard 14-day return policy (15 days in Canada). For online orders, Apple says products "received" on November 6 through December 25 are eligible for return through January 8. In some countries, such as Mexico, Italy, Spain, and Japan, the return window is slightly longer. Apple says eligible products purchased in those countries between November 6 and January 6, 2027 may be returned through January 20, 2027. This policy applies to purchases at Apple Stores, on Apple.com, and in the Apple Store app. Apple has also updated its online store with holiday theming and gift recommendations. Tag: Apple Store This article, " Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
