Apple May Merge 2 iPhone Buttons by 2027 as Camera Control Absorbs Action Key

Q: Could Apple skip the iPhone 19 name entirely to launch a radically minimalist iPhone 20 for its 20th anniversary?

Yes—Apple could plausibly skip “iPhone 19,” but it remains unconfirmed. The idea fits Apple’s history. In 2017, for the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, Apple launched the iPhone X alongside the iPhone 8 and skipped iPhone 9 entirely. Several recent reports and leaks now suggest Apple may do something similar in 2027, moving from the 2026 iPhone 18 generation to an “iPhone 20” or another anniversary-focused name. That rumor also matches the scale of the redesign being described. Multiple sources point to a 20th-anniversary Pro overhaul with a more minimalist, glass-centric look: quad-curved displays, slimmer bezels, slightly larger screens, and possible consolidation of hardware controls. The new leak about dropping the Action button and folding some of its functions into Camera Control supports that broader theme of simplification. At the same time, the naming is less certain than the design direction. Some reporting suggests Apple could still release a standard iPhone 19 while branding the flagship anniversary model as iPhone 20, much as it sold iPhone 8 and iPhone X in the same cycle. Other reports note the company’s split release timing could further complicate the numbering. So the most defensible answer is that Apple skipping iPhone 19 is credible, not confirmed. The evidence is strongest for a major 2027 anniversary redesign; the exact branding—iPhone 19, iPhone 20, iPhone XX, or something else—will likely remain uncertain until Apple is much closer to launch.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Nov 6

2027 iPhone models could drop the standalone Action button, with leaker Instant Digital saying Camera Control would open the camera on a tap and trigger the assigned Action function on a long press.
That setup would preserve both familiar gestures while freeing up Camera Control’s current long-press role, because Visual Intelligence has already moved into the Camera app as Siri mode in iOS 27.
Apple could use the change to simplify manufacturing, cut component costs and reduce confusion between the Action button and nearby volume keys, while giving the mixed-reviewed Camera Control a clearer purpose.
The rumor also fits recent hardware signals: the iPhone Duo already lacks an Action button, and earlier reports said Apple had explored a simpler pressure-sensing Camera Control design for the iPhone 18 line.
If adopted, the merged control would likely arrive with Apple’s second-half 2027 iPhone launch, expected to coincide with its 20th-anniversary models.