New iPhone Action Button: Insights from Case Manufacturer
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Understanding the Action Button
The latest iPhones come equipped with an innovative action button, a feature that has sparked various reactions, especially from case manufacturers like Peak Design. This company had anticipated a slide switch instead of the newly introduced button, which presents three distinct solutions for consumers.
The team at Peak Design has manufactured 30,000 cases for the iPhone 15 series without accommodating the new action button. Rather than providing a dedicated insert for the button, these cases feature an opening on the side where the button is located.
Peak Design's founder, Peter Dering, expressed that they had hoped Apple would retain the traditional slide switch used to silence iPhones. However, the action button was implemented instead, offering a variety of functionalities beyond just muting. Dering noted that while they were aware of the potential for an action button, they believed it could be easily accessed through the case’s opening.
In a recent YouTube discussion, Dering elaborated on how the action button can indeed be activated through the opening, but he acknowledged that it does not provide an optimal user experience. As a solution, Peak Design has presented three options for customers who purchase their case, priced at nearly 50 euros. Notably, 15,000 units have already been sold.
Three Options for Customers
For those who prefer to maintain their current case but want the functionality of pressing the action button similar to the volume buttons, Peak Design offers a small inlay. This accessory can be inserted into the opening, allowing for easier access to the action button. Customers selecting this option will also receive a $15 voucher for the Peak Design online store.
Alternatively, customers who wish to keep their case without the inlay option will receive a $40 voucher for the online shop. The third option allows for exchanging the original case for a new design that includes a built-in button, which is expected to be available in November 2023, alongside the inlay solution.