Future iPhones with new customizable buttons
The buttons available on the iPhone chassis have evolved a lot over the last few generations. The iPhone 15 Pro introduced the Action buttonreplacing the switch to manage Silent mode, while the iPhone 16s added a button to control the camera with the tip of the finger. In view of a recent patent, Apple is not finished with these devices.
Reported by Patently Applethis document specifically talks about customizing volume buttons. The images highlighted also show an interface allowing you to select the shortcut allocated to one of these, such as for example launching a shortcut (open the garage, close the car, call a contact, activate a function accessibility, start a timer or even configure an alarm).
To differentiate between pressing a volume button to lower or raise the sound and activating a shortcut, the patent reports the use of haptic motors. The latter would thus make it possible to offer tactile feedback to inform the user of the activated function. This is also a technology already used by Apple, notably on the touchpad of Macs, the new button of the iPhone 16 or even the one dedicated to Touch ID, still available on the iPhone SE 3.
Interestingly, the patent is not just limited to the iPhone, suggesting the arrival of customizable buttons on more devices, including iPads and Macs. “Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops or tablet computers with touch-sensitive surfaces (e.g., touchscreens and/or touchpads), may be used,” the document reads.
Like any patent, it is important to take a grain of salt. Apple could very well use it in the future, following the trend started with the Action and Camera Control buttons, or never take advantage of it on future devices.
