Since the original iPhone, the mute lever key, alongside the volume buttons, has been a hallmark of the iPhone.
Since then, both the iPhone 6 Plus, the first large-screen design, and the first full-screen iPhone X, have retained this design.
With the launch of this year's iPhone 15 series, this design has finally been removed from the Pro series models, and it has been replaced by a new action button. The new version of the action button not only retains the silent mode, but can also be customized according to the user's needs, and can be called at any time by pressing and holding the operation. Currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro series models support this feature, while the iPhone 15 standard models retain the classic design of the paddle.
According to the latest news from Apple's official website, the operation button may become the standard design of the iPhone 16 series, and the lever mute button will completely go into history. According to the recent news of foreign media Macrumors, Apple will adopt the operation button design for all iPhone 16 models, and make some optimization and upgrades. For starters, the iPhone 16 series is expected to feature capacitive action buttons, replacing the previous mechanical buttons, similar to the home button of older iPhones, and supporting haptic feedback. At the same time, according to Macrumors, the new version of the action button will also feature a force sensor that can be used to detect changes in the degree of compression. 
MacRumors is widely believed to mean that the iPhone 16 series' action buttons will support a wider variety of commands, depending on the degree of pressure.
Not only that, MacRumors also revealed that Apple has tested a number of different sizes of action button mods. Some of the buttons are larger than those used in the iPhone 15 Pro series models, and are closer to the size of the volume buttons. According to an internal Apple document, the action button has already appeared on several iPhone 16 series prototypes, suggesting that Apple may be developing and testing the design.
If the 9to5Mac message is true, the action button may become the standard design of the iPhone 16 series, and completely abandon the long-standing paddle-style mute key design. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will likely also be the last two models to use a paddle-style mute key. Speaking of which, since the action button debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro series, the outside world has never stopped talking about this new button. According to the feedback of some users, the application scenarios of the operation button are not as wide as expected, and you may encounter false touches from time to time.
MacrumorsIn short, the action buttons do not bring great usability, which is the main reason why many users are reluctant to talk about new buttons. Combined with the current revelations from the outside world, Apple will not only fully adopt the operation button in the iPhone 16 series, but also may make a wave of optimization of its functionality to make the operation button more user-friendly. Of course, the iPhone 16 series is still nearly 10 months away, and the leaks are still in the early stages. 
As for the final situation, Gizbot will have to wait for Apple's autumn conference to be held in September next year, which will be officially revealed. Are you looking forward to the iPhone 16 series?Welcome to leave a message in the comment area and discuss with you. If you want to know more about the knowledge and skills of using Apple devices and inquire about the warranty, welcome to pay attention to the Fruit Fan Club.