Apple’s big premiere is already behind us. At the conference, which took place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, the company presented several new hardware products, including four iPhone 15 models, Apple Watch Series 9 watches, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
When it comes to the two cheaper iPhone models, the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, there were no changes. The Pro variants look much more interesting – the iPhone 15 Pro and the most expensive in Apple’s offer, 15 Pro Max.
The casing of these devices was made using titanium aviation grade, making them both lighter and more durable than last year’s models. A powerful one also appeared A17 Pro chip, USB-C charging connector (works in the USB 3 standard – up to 20 times faster than USB 2), and the 15 Pro Max model additionally received a new telephoto lens with up to 5x optical zoom.
iPhone 15 Pro Max with a new action button. The iconic slider disappears
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max also received another new feature. It’s about an additional action button. It replaces the existing bell-mute switch (i.e. the iconic slider or flick).
The default function of the action button is toggle between ringtone and mute (as in the case of the slider mentioned above). The difference is that we can also assign other functions to the button – e.g. turning on the voice recorder, camera or flashlight, or even switching between focus modes.
Theoretically (and in principle and practically), the introduction of this solution is a step forward that users should be happy about. The problem is that the iconic button has become one of the most characteristic features in iPhone design over the years – suffice it to say that it has accompanied Apple smartphones since 2007, i.e. since the first generation of these devices.
The first iPhone and its ‘silent switch’ Wikimedia Commons/HereToHelp/CC
For a long time, this was also one of the things unique to the iPhone. Only later did some of Apple’s competitors use this idea in the design of their devices – for example OnePlus. Of course, there is no doubt that we are saying goodbye to the mechanical switch for good. You can expect that next year it will also disappear from cheaper iPhone models. In a similar way, Apple said goodbye to the physical “Home” button – another solution unique to the iPhone. Will you miss the flick?
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
