Originally published at: Do You Use It? iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Struggles to Find Its Purpose - TidBITS
The results of our poll asking owners of the iPhone 15 Pro if they use the Action button, and if so, for what, show that most people have it toggle Silent mode, just like the Ring/Silent switch it replaces, open the Camera app, or don’t use it at all.
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This is probably a key issue. In the past, before Apple allowed widgets and wide customisation (even more so with iOS 18’s Control Centre), the Action button would likely have found widespread usage. But there are so many ways to create convenient shortcuts now. Thankfully 
I find that I’m triggered by visuals, so once I pick up my iPhone, I see the widgets and it’s easier to tap them to reach around for the Action button and accidentally hit the volume button and try again and then get the Action button, which I have to press and hold in comparison with a simple tap on the widget.
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While I partially agree with some of these points, I’m still really perplexed at such apparent low usage, “I really like it” rates.
I’m definitely not a power user. But I find the Action Button to be the quickest, least frustrating way to open the several items I use on a routine basis.
I’ve never had a problem with unintentionally activating the button because of the press-hold delay; the button falls perfectly under my left thumb (on this non-Max iPhone 15 Pro); the button activation thru my 2 cases is perfect (maybe better than w/out a case?..because the case covering makes the button larger and easier to discern).
Finally I super appreciate I don’t need to swipe, scroll in any direction or hunt around to find my several items - or even remember which sub folder they might be in. I can be inside any app or task and the simple button push takes me directly to what I want.
I do feel that Apple bears some blame here. They don’t promote or advertise it correctly enough, and they should provide more obvious support, instructions, links and examples for making the most of the button.
By far the best use of this button, IMHO, is toggling the Orientation Lock. Turn the phone and the current screen rotation mode isn’t to your liking? Simply hold the button to lock or unlock screen rotation. I use this multiple times per day and have for many months.
Try it out and post what you think!
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I’m sad that the Action button hasn’t been more of a hit because it seemed like the sort of thing that power users would leap to use.
Doesn’t the survey show that 8 out of 10 people do find it useful? I wouldn’t say that’s a particularly low percentage for a new feature.
80% of respondents use it, but 33% use it for the same function as the switch it replaced, which, to my mind, doesn’t equate to finding it useful. Another 20% use it to open the Camera app, which is a real use but one that will disappear entirely for iPhone 16 users. It just feels weak.
I think that’s the wrong way to look at it. A big shift will take time to take hold. Most will use it as they have so far. Then people will start broadening out.
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Reminds me of the Touch Bar. A select few loudly shouting how this is the future, while the vast majority couldn’t care less about it. I have no strong feelings either way, but I do find it disappointing that this is apparently the kind of “feature” Apple tries to talk up big time when it comes to iPhone innovation.
You can still assign the action button to the camera on the iPhone 16 family. Just because the new camera button is there, it doesn’t mean that people can’t use the action button instead.
From reading John Gruber’s review, if the 16 series screen is locked a single press of the camera control button will not open the camera - it wakes the screen and needs another press of the button to open the camera. The action button, though, will open the camera even when the screen is locked.
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We’ll have to revisit this poll in a year and see.
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Or it’s like the trackpad, which had similar vibes.
I see what you mean Adam but I will be using it on my 15 Pro as a camera launch button for years to come no-matter what control inputs future iPhones have and I’m delighted to have that choice.
I think modern car interior mistakes have confirmed the value of physical controls for frequently used actions.
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