Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models at the iPhone 15 launch yesterday. While Apple abandoned the Lightning port throughout the series and switched to the USB-C port, it also said goodbye to the mute switch that has been on iPhones for many years. iPhone 15 Pro models now have an Action button instead of this key. However, this button probably sounds familiar to you from somewhere.New Action button
iPhone 15 Pro models now have an Action button instead of a mute switch. With this button, it is possible to silence the device and put it in ring mode by default. However, through the Settings app, the Action button can be customized to launch an app, run the flashlight, enable accessibility options, and more.
iPhones have had a physical mute switch since they were first released in 2007. When you received a call and wanted to silence the phone, all you had to do was slide the switch. This small design element was removed almost 16 years after it was first introduced.
“Hi Bixby”
Most Samsung users who saw the Action button at yesterday’s event may have thought of the Bixby button. Samsung added the Bixby key to its devices to access the smart assistant in the Galaxy S8 series, which was released in 2017. The assistant could be accessed by pressing the Bixby key or with the “Hi Bixby” command. However, its very limited use and the lack of functionality of the assistant made users fed up and wanted to get rid of the button.At first, Samsung did not allow disabling or customizing the Bixby button. It could only be used for the assistant and nothing else. In fact, the Bixby button could not even be turned off for a while. Months after the button came into our lives, Samsung has finally allowed the Bixby button to be disabled.
This finally changed when Samsung launched the Galaxy S10 series in 2019. Users were allowed to customize the Bixby key on Galaxy S10 to open any app. This functionality was later brought to older devices via an update. However, in the same year, Samsung completely removed the Bixby button from its phones with the Galaxy Note 10.
Bixby did not receive the expected attention and there was no reason for Samsung to add an extra physical button to its devices. Now, Apple presents users with the Action button that provides similar functions. We also know that Apple does not like buttons on phones. So this situation is also a bit ironic
35946
