Apple has confirmed that it will host an event called “Glowtime” on Monday, September 9, where we fully expect the Californian tech company to unveil the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. That means less than two weeks before the covers are lifted on this year’s new iPhones, rumors and leaks are ramping up, giving us a better idea of what to expect.
One thing that seems certain is that at least one iPhone 16 model will get a brand new button. Earlier rumors suggested that only the Pro iPhones would get it as a Capture Button, but a new report from Apple Insider seems to point to the new feature coming to all four new iPhone 16 devices.
According to the publication, its sources said the Capture Button “is expected to debut across the entire iPhone 16 lineup” and that Apple has tested it to work with all four new iPhones. The button is on the right side of the phones under the power button and is also long. It’s expected to sit flush with the phones’ bezels, rather than sticking out like the power, volume, and action buttons on the latest iPhones do.
The action button is currently only found on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, and replaces the Ring/Silent switch found on all other iPhone models, including the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. If this new report is true, all iPhone 16 models will likely have an action button and a capture button.
The Capture button would mostly act as a trigger for the Camera app, just like on any digital camera, but also on Sony Xperia smartphones. Unlike those products, Apple is said to have brought the Capture Button flush with the iPhone’s body, and it could be a capacitive button that doesn’t move — much like the Home button on the iPhone SE or trackpads on MacBooks — and gives the user the impression of movement through vibrating haptic feedback.
The button could be touch sensitive so that focus can be done with a half press and the photo can be taken with a firmer press, like the MacBook trackpads allow for deep pressing. It is also possible that the button can be swiped to scroll through menus or zoom when using the camera.
If Apple brings the Action and Capture buttons to every new iPhone 16 model, it would mean even fewer hardware differences between “regular” and Pro iPhones in 2024. Apple is expected to give the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus 60Hz displays , which is almost unheard of for other premium priced smartphones. Smoother, better-looking 120 Hz panels can be found in Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Pro iPhone phones.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are said to retain the titanium construction of the 15 Pro phones, and the 16 and 16 Plus will remain aluminum, but with new colors and vertically aligned cameras instead of diagonally to differentiate them from the iPhone 15 series.
Apple may also be preparing two brand new versions of the wildly popular wireless AirPods for the September 9 event, along with the new Apple Watch Series 10.
For the latest iPhone 16 release date, price and specs rumours, check out our full article here.
