Additional Action Buttons may be present in some upcoming Apple phone situations.

Apple’s patent allows cases to have virtual buttons.
Apple may not need to release an iPhone 16 in order to have an Action Button. Apple is working on a case that has buttons built-in to control the iPhone enclosed. This patent also gives a hint at the rumored reverse wireless charging that has been anticipated ever since the iPhone 13. In this case, the patent does not mention a wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth or an external power source. This case would have to be able to share data and draw power from the iPhone in order for it work. It was expected that the iPhone would have two-way charging (also known as reverse charging) years ago. Apple is likely working on a MagSafe upgrade that can handle both power and data. Apple shows that the virtual button can be used for anything from fingerprint scanning to button pressing. A fingerprint scanner needs to communicate securely with an iPhone and that would require more data than simply registering a press of a button. A case with a virtual switch can be used for many different purposes. The current Action Button replaces a physical mute button that was found on iPhones prior to the iPhone 15. It can still be set to silence the phone but you can also have it perform other tasks. The Action Button allows you to open the camera, launch apps, change the focus of the phone, record voice memos and more. The Action Button is able to perform complex tasks thanks to its ability run Shortcuts. The Action Button is limited in its use because there is only one Action Button and it can only do one thing at a given time. If you set the Action Button for Shazam, it cannot be used to turn the flashlight on without a custom shortcut. The iPhone could have multiple Action Buttons with different functions, thanks to multiple virtual buttons. The button would behave as if it was part of the phone when the case is connected. A programmable button can be used for a variety of tasks. These buttons can perform different functions within different apps. The button could be used to switch weapons in first-person shooters or compose a response in Mail by using Apple Intelligence. The button could also register various types of touch in the same way that the trackpad does. The patent describes the way in which the button responds to a single, double or triple tap, held for a certain duration, or a finger sliding across it. The inclusion of buttons in iPhone cases may also be useful for accessibility. The Action Button is located at the top of iPhone 15 Max and can be difficult to reach for some users. The patent shows a virtual button on the bottom edge of iPhone, which would be easier to reach. Apple only showed the button built into a phone case, but the patent mentions that this technology can be used with other devices such as add-on camera. In this application, an external camera accessory button that is connectable could take a picture, switch between video and photos, change lenses, or even send the image. This patent application called “case input for electronic device” may never be implemented. Apple is known for its innovative features, such as adding iPhone controls to a case by sliding it on. Joshua A. Hoover is credited with the patent. He has many patents on audio devices and technologies, including headsets such as the Apple Vision Pro.