Apple made the right decision ditching the mute switch on the iPhone 15 Pro

In a world the place there’s actually not a lot innovation exterior of foldable telephones, Apple is taking a unique method. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max ditch the long-standing mute swap in favor of the Action Button, and this small change has me wanting Android telephones to do one thing related.Apple has caught with the glass and aluminum sandwich for just about ever, and whereas rumors recommend the corporate is engaged on a foldable cellphone, we’re not anticipating that to point out up anytime quickly. On its face, the iPhone 15 sequence is simply one other iPhone, with a barely tweaked design so you do not find yourself with indentations within the palms of your hand.Where Apple tries to innovate is with its Pro telephones, which embrace issues like a 120Hz refresh charge, higher cameras, Dynamic Island, and extra. Then, the corporate would possibly carry sure options right down to the non-Pro iPhones, as we noticed with the 48MP major sensor and Dynamic Island. But the general development was considerably damaged over the previous two years.Bring the Action Button to Android telephones(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max aren’t the primary Apple units to incorporate an all-new {hardware} button. That was launched with final yr’s Apple Watch Ultra earlier than making its method to the brand new iPhones this yr. In its stead, Apple ditched the {hardware} mute swap, one thing that has been a staple for the reason that authentic iPhone was launched.I’m right here to say that it is a transfer that each smartphone maker ought to take into account, though there actually aren’t many Android telephones that even embrace a devoted swap. It’s not a brand-new idea, simply one thing else that’s being “reimagined” and launched to iPhone customers for the primary time.But earlier than you seize your pitchforks and name me an Apple “sheep,” hear me out.(Image credit score: Apple)By default, the Action Button nonetheless acts as a method to toggle sounds on and off, however the true energy is available in the truth that you’ll be able to customise the button to do different issues. A few them embrace the flexibility to launch your digital camera or activate the flashlight, however these shortcuts are already on the Lock Screen anyway and cannot be swapped out for one thing else.Apple took issues a step additional, although, as you can set the Action Button to open the Camera app to a particular mode. So, in case you take a number of selfies, press the button, and the app will robotically open to that mode. Do you are taking a number of movies? Select that from the completely different choices, push the button, and begin recording.It all comes right down to Shortcuts(Image credit score: iMore)But the explanation why the Action Button actually excites me is due to its native Shortcuts integration. For the unaware, Shortcuts derives from an app referred to as “Workflow” that was launched onto the App Store. A number of years later, Apple bought the corporate, and now Shortcuts is on the market as a method to supercharge every thing you do on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even the Apple Watch.I’m not going to enter the weeds about every thing that’s doable with the Shortcuts app however as a substitute will refer you to Matthew Cassinelli. They have been a member of the unique Workflow workforce earlier than it was acquired by Apple and has created 1000’s of Shortcuts through the years that proceed to blow my thoughts.Anyways, again on subject. One of the choices you’ve when customizing the Action Button is to launch a Shortcut. As Marques Brownlee showcased in his iPhone 15 Pro “Unboxing and Second Look” video, you should utilize the Action Button to invoke Google Assistant. So, as a substitute of getting to depend on Siri, you’ll be able to get pleasure from utilizing a digital assistant that is truly helpful. All the whereas taking about the identical period of time as invoking Siri utilizing the facet button.Apple continues to be Apple(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)There is one factor that makes me really feel much less excited concerning the Action Button, and it is essentially the most Apple factor doable. Instead of opening issues as much as enable for a number of gestures, you are “stuck” with simply “press and release.”There’s no choice to double-tap or triple-tap to carry out a unique motion, so it feels very limiting in a means that solely Apple could make me really feel. I will not be stunned if Apple adjustments course after all the mud settles between the iPhone 15 launch and all the completely different software program releases that additionally not too long ago occurred. But it is nonetheless irritating, once more, in a means that solely Apple can obtain.This is nothing new(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)It’s not like Apple is (or was) the primary to introduce a button that does one thing apart from management the quantity or flip your cellphone off. Sony continues to be doing so with the devoted shutter button on the Xperia sequence, whereas Motorola’s ThinkPhone has its “Red Key.” The ThinkPhone’s implementation might be the closest that we’ll get in the interim, because the Red Key could be “customized to launch any app or action with a single press.” As famous in our evaluate, you’ll be able to even go as far as to robotically “launch a specified ReadyFor action on your PC.” Even Samsung carried out a devoted Bixby button again with the Galaxy S8 however opted to go a unique route. This determination continues to be type of hanging round, because the Side Button on just about each new Galaxy cellphone defaults to activating Bixby. But as I already talked about, you’ll be able to change this to carry out a unique motion, in order for you. Who may do it higher?(Image credit score: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)When it involves the Side Button on the Galaxy S-series, certain you are able to do one thing apart from invoke Bixby, and there are third-party apps on the Play Store that allow you to do much more than simply that. But that button is already reserved for sure issues, and including extra duties would in all probability find yourself being too complicated for some.With so many telephones which might be bigger than our pockets, why not take advantage of out of that house and provides us much more flexibility? The almost definitely candidate to do one thing like this could be OnePlus, contemplating that it is the solely “big name” firm left that truly makes use of a {hardware} mute swap.(Image credit score: Nicholas Sutrich / Android Central)Being capable of have a devoted button that could possibly be custom-made to do no matter I need, built-in into the system, could be a dream. And that is the important thing phrase: built-in into the system. Without utilizing Good Lock or apps from the Play Store, simply baked proper into the software program, so you’ll be able to open the Settings app and alter the motion with ease.Unfortunately, I actually do not suppose that is one thing that we’ll see come to one of the best Android telephones anytime quickly, if ever. Unlike the adoption of MagSafe with the Qi2 commonplace, including a {hardware} button would value cash. And the one time that we actually see Android telephones copy Apple is relating to how they’ll lower your expenses.