iPhone 15 Cancels the Mute Paddle

March 31, 2023 | Words by Jackson

As we all know, Apple has always had a design heritage for the iPhone series of smartphones, such as the mute paddles that have been used for more than ten years. From the first-generation iPhone in 2007 to the current iPhone 14 series, the mute paddles have been retained, staying on the side of the phone without any changes.

When Apple originally designed this mute paddle, it was used by business people to prevent iPhone users from suddenly ringing loudly during meetings and affecting their work. 15 years have passed, and now the function of the mute button has not changed. With this mute button, you don’t need to unlock the phone and then mute it when you are in a meeting, but you can directly mute it with one button, which is convenient.

In the past ten years or so, iPhone users have had voices of support and opposition for mute paddles. Supporters think it is very easy to use, while opponents think it is superfluous. For example, Android phones generally choose to use volume keys instead of mute paddles. Long press to mute, which is also easy to use.

However, the debate over the mute paddles can stop browsing. Just yesterday, an insider revealed that the next-generation iPhone 15 will cancel the mute paddles and replace them with customizable buttons.

Reliable netizens who accurately broke the news about the features of Smart Island before this, recently posted on the MacRumors forum again, sharing information about the customizable Action Button.

According to the news, the sides of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra (or iPhone 15 Pro Max) have abandoned the mute paddle since 2007 and replaced it with an Action Button similar to Apple Watch Ultra, allowing users to make various customizations according to their preferences.

MacRumors also shared the options that the Action Button can customize, andZikeTechmade the list below:

  • Toggle between ring and silent
  • Enable/disable Do Not Disturb mode
  • Enable/disable flash
  • Enable/disable power-saving mode
  • Toggle light/dark theme
  • Enable/disable rotation lock
  • Show the home screen
  • Show lock screen
  • Open control center
  • Open notification center
  • Turn on the camera
  • Screenshot
  • Screen recording
  • Run a shortcut
  • Show multitasking view
  • Show App Library
  • Start listening to music service Shazam
  • VoiceOver
  • Star compass
  • Change background music


Most of the functions of these Action Buttons can be realized through the Back Tap function at present. Introduced in iOS 14, the feature triggers specific actions by tapping the back of the iPhone. The feature can be set under Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap in the Settings app.

In addition to the mute paddle, sources on the MacRumors forum also claim that Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use low-power microprocessors that will keep certain features available even when the phone is turned off, and power the new capacitive solid-state chips. Buttons (tactile feedback keys) provide support.

The anonymous source said that Apple will replace the ultra-low power mode of the current SoC (AX) chip with the new microprocessor, allowing the iPhone to be located within 24 hours after it is turned off or the battery is depleted via Find My, as well as Bluetooth. / UWB and Apple Pay quick payment mode and other functions. Allegedly, it will take over all of these existing functions, in addition to powering the solid-state buttons:

Responsible for:

- Capacitive volume buttons, power buttons, and multi-purpose operation buttons.

On shutdown is responsible for:

- Capacitive volume, power, and operation buttons.

- Drive NFC, LE Bluetooth, LE-UWB chips, etc.

(may support Taptic Engine feedback)

When the battery is dead:

- Capacitive volume, power, and operation buttons.

- Apple Pay Express quick payment

- Drive NFC, LE Bluetooth, LE-UWB chips, etc.

The source also said that Apple is currently testing some features, such as Taptic Engine feedback. "Whether this little feature will make it to the final release is very uncertain, but it's currently being tested," he added.

"Insiders" are said to have seen two versions of the unified volume button functionality in testing, with one version capable of quickly raising/lowering volume based on the amount of pressure you press, while the other can be adjusted by swiping up and down with your finger volume, but it's unclear which way Apple will end up going.

Of course, this function is implemented through software, and the volume button integrated with 3D Touch has been determined. ZikeTech believes that Apple may directly provide two solutions for users to choose freely. Let us look forward to it together!


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