While the iPhone 15 Pro may have an action button, the iPhone 16 may have an additional capacitive button. This new button is called the "capture button" and is said to be one of the iPhone 16's major selling points.

This button is said to be completely distinct from the action button and will have its own unique function. There are not many rumors out there yet as to what the capture button will look like, but we can piece together the details and get an idea of what Apple may have in store for us.

Here is what we know so far about the iPhone 16 capture button.

The action button is currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but rumor has it that the capture button will be available on all iPhone 16 models. This includes the entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, and will likely extend to the iPhone 16 Ultra, assuming it actually launches in 2024.

However, initial reports indicate that Apple has created a hardware configuration that does not include a capture button. Perhaps this is a backup in case the new buttons achieve Apple's high standards. At this point, however, it appears that the capture button will still appear, with leaker Unknownz21 claiming that the capture button is "still in development at the Proto2 stage."

So while it is possible that the Capture button will be discontinued, as the iPhone 15's capacitive volume and power buttons reportedly were, it appears to still be on track for now.

Reportedly, the Capture button will be a solid-state capacitive button, with haptic feedback provided by the built-in Taptic engine.

The current expectation is that the Capture button will be placed below the iPhone 16's power button, or in roughly the same location where the mmWave notch is found on the iPhone 15. Naturally, adding an entirely new piece of hardware would lead to no small amount of design changes. At least two reports now claim that the mmWave area will be swapped left and right and will find a new home under the iPhone 16's volume buttons.

There will no doubt be other internal changes to compensate for this change, but they will not have a noticeable impact on the user experience. Phone internals are constantly changing, and the iPhone 16 will be no exception.

So far, we do not know much about what the "Capture" button actually does or what its eventual name will be. It is claimed that "Capture Button" is the name Apple uses internally, and that alone provides some clues as to what this button might actually do.

"Capture" suggests that this has something to do with the iPhone 16 camera. It is possible that this button could trigger the camera shutter or act as a shortcut to the camera app. However, it is not clear if there is a user-selectable element to this feature. However, Apple would need to be careful not to add what is essentially a glorified second action button.

Dedicated camera buttons have appeared on phones in the past, but this is the first time something like this has appeared on an iPhone.

Interestingly, MacRumors claims that this button will have a "force sensor function. This means that it can detect and convert applied force. This could add further functionality to the capture button. For example, if a single tap snaps a photo, a stronger force could trigger a video recording. Or it could be a safety measure to avoid accidentally taking a photo.

Not a frivolous gimmick: It is common for smartphones to have some kind of gimmick to encourage purchase. given the immense popularity of the iPhone, Apple should not have to resort to such tactics. In other words, the capture button needs to have an actual purpose, not be thrown in for the sake of it. There is a reason why dedicated camera buttons never caught on, and if the Capture button cannot offer something of value, it probably should not be included at all

Offer user choice: Apple has been emphasizing user choice in recent years, and the Action button is a good example of this; Apple would be wise to do the same for the Capture button, even if the available options are completely different. Apple would be wise to do the same for the Capture button, even if the available options are completely different.

Not just an Action button: If Apple is going to start adding additional buttons to the iPhone, it is important that they actually be different from one another. There is already a programmable Action button, so there is no need to go to the trouble of adding a second one. Especially if the original button has untapped potential for programming additional functionality.

Learn from Action Button Failures: While we don't want to see a carbon copy of the Action button, Apple needs to learn from the failures of the Action button. Specifically, the fact that they are limited to one action and can only be triggered by a long press. If there is a Capture button, I would like to see more options for triggering specific functions, such as double-tap or long-press.

Please don't make it Pro-only: current rumors indicate that the Capture button will be available on the entire iPhone 16 lineup, but that may not be the case. Apple usually introduces this type of feature first on the Pro models and then adds it to the less expensive models the following year. This time, however, we expect the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to have something new and fresh instead of last year's feature.