Apple iPhone 20 Rumored to Drop the Action Button for a Cleaner All-Screen Design
Apple’s long-running dream of building a truly seamless iPhone may take a major step forward with the rumored iPhone 20. Expected to arrive around the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone, the device is said to push closer than ever to an all-screen design with fewer visible interruptions, fewer physical controls, and a more futuristic look.
According to recent industry chatter, Apple may remove the Action Button from the iPhone 20 altogether. Instead of keeping it as a separate control, the company is reportedly planning to merge its functions with the Camera Control button. A single press could open the camera, while a longer press may trigger customizable shortcuts similar to what the Action Button currently offers.
If accurate, this would make the Action Button one of Apple’s shortest-lived hardware features. It first replaced the classic ring/silent switch on the iPhone 15 Pro models in 2023, giving users quick access to functions such as Silent Mode, Focus, flashlight, camera, voice memos, translation, accessibility tools, and shortcuts. With the iPhone 20, Apple may keep those software features but remove the extra button to create a cleaner frame.
The iPhone 20 is also rumored to use solid-state controls for the power button, volume keys, and Camera Control. Rather than physically moving when pressed, these buttons would sit flush with the frame and use haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of a click. This approach could improve durability, reduce internal space requirements, and support Apple’s goal of a more minimal design.
Another major design change could be an edge-to-edge quad-curved display. Reports suggest Apple is exploring a screen that curves subtly on all four sides, giving the appearance of glass flowing over the edges of the device. The iPhone 20 may still include a small cutout for Face ID and the front camera, but the overall look is expected to be much closer to a true all-screen iPhone than current models.
Such a design would likely be difficult and expensive to manufacture. A more complex display, new button technology, and a refined body structure could all contribute to a higher iPhone 20 price. Apple has often used milestone models to introduce dramatic changes, and the 20th-anniversary iPhone may become one of the company’s most ambitious upgrades yet.
Camera improvements are also expected. The iPhone 20 has been linked to a new LOFIC camera sensor, a technology designed to improve dynamic range and reduce overexposure in bright scenes. If Apple adopts it, users could see better photos in challenging lighting conditions, especially when capturing sunsets, city lights, reflections, or high-contrast scenes.
Battery life may receive a major boost as well. Rumors point to a battery capacity as large as 6,000 mAh, which would be the biggest ever used in an iPhone. This could be made possible by silicon-carbon battery technology, which allows higher energy density without requiring the same amount of space as traditional lithium-ion cells. Removing mechanical button components and combining the Action Button with Camera Control could also free up valuable internal room.
Apple is widely expected to adjust its naming strategy for this anniversary model. Just as the company skipped the iPhone 9 and jumped to iPhone X in 2017, it may skip the iPhone 19 name and move directly to iPhone 20 for its 2027 flagship lineup.
The company has reportedly worked on solid-state button technology for years, with earlier plans said to have been delayed due to technical challenges. Those issues are now believed to be closer to resolution, raising the possibility that the iPhone 20 could finally deliver the buttonless-style design Apple has been moving toward.
While none of these details have been officially confirmed, the rumored iPhone 20 is shaping up to be a significant redesign. With a cleaner frame, haptic solid-state buttons, a merged Camera Control and Action Button system, a larger battery, improved camera hardware, and a nearly all-screen display, Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhone could represent one of the biggest design shifts in the product’s history.
