The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have brought a fresh feature in the form of the Action Button, offering users the freedom to tailor its function to their preferences. However, in the recent iOS 17.1 update, Apple has made an interesting adjustment to how this button operates when the device is snugly tucked away in a user’s pocket.
With the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple bid farewell to the traditional Mute Switch, usually found on the side of their phones. In its place, the Action Button took center stage, granting users the ability to reconfigure its purpose. This button can now be assigned tasks like powering down the phone, activating the flashlight, or launching chosen application shortcuts, all of which are conveniently adjustable via the device’s Settings menu.
An intriguing aspect of this new feature is that users can employ this button even when the screen is inactive. However, this convenience does bring about potential challenges, such as unintentional actions triggered while the device resides in a pocket.
To tackle this issue, Apple has implemented a feature that can dynamically alter the button’s function, especially when it senses that the phone is concealed within a user’s pocket. This likely involves the use of a proximity sensor to enhance the user experience.
Currently, this feature is exclusively available to users participating in the iOS 17.1 beta for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. As for the wider public, Apple anticipates releasing the stable version of iOS 17.1 toward the end of October, although a specific date for its release remains pending.
