Steve Jobs wanted to make a smartphone with a few physical buttons or without buttons.
The first touchscreen phone was introduced by IBM Simon Personal Communicator, released in 1994. It featured a monochromatic touchscreen and included functionalities like email, a calculator, and a sketch pad.
After IBM, Nokia released the 7710 smartphone in 2004, which featured a resistive touchscreen and was designed for multimedia use.
But Steve Jobs wanted to do something different and useful. Steve Jobs launched its first Apple iPhone on June 29, 2007, which was a complete smartphone. The original iPhone featured a touchscreen design with only a few physical buttons: a single Home button on the front and power and volume controls on the sides.
Later, Apple released its first iPhone without a physical home button, the iPhone X, on November 3, 2017.
History and Evolution of the iPhone Buttons
Here’s a quick overview of the buttons on iPhones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 16:
- iPhone (2007): 4 buttons (Home, Power, Volume Up, Volume Down)
- iPhone 3G/3GS (2008-2009): 4 buttons (Sleep/wake, Ring/silent, Volume up/down, and Home)
- iPhone 4/4S (2010-2011): 4 buttons (on/off—sleep/wake, ring/silent, volume up/down, and home)
- iPhone 5/5S/5C (2012-2013): 4 buttons (on/off—sleep/wake, volume up/down, Ring/silent, and Home)
- iPhone 6/6 Plus/6S/6S Plus (2014-2015): 4 buttons (Touch ID sensor, Volume up/down, Ring/Silent, and Power button)
- iPhone 7/7 Plus (2016): 4 buttons (Home/Touch ID sensor, Volume up/down, Ring/Silent switch, and Side button)
- iPhone 8/8 Plus (2017): 4 buttons (Home/Touch ID sensor, Volume up/down, Ring/Silent, and Side button)
- iPhone X (2017): 3 buttons (side button, volume buttons, ring/silent, and switch) – Home button removed
- iPhone XS/XS Max/XR (2018): 3 buttons (Power, Volume Up, Volume Down)
- iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max (2019): 3 buttons (Power, Volume Up, Volume Down)
- iPhone 12/12 Mini/12 Pro/12 Pro Max (2020): 3 buttons (Volume up/down, Ring/Silent, and Side button)
- iPhone 13/13 Mini/13 Pro/13 Pro Max (2021): 3 buttons (Volume up/down, Ring/Silent, and Side button)
- iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro/14 Pro Max (2022): 3 buttons (side button, volume buttons, and ring/silent switch)
- iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max (2023): 3 buttons (Volume up/down, Side button, and an Action button, replaces the Ring/Silent switch on pro models)
- iPhone 16/16 Plus/16 Pro/16 Pro Max (2024): 5 buttons (Power, Volume Up, Volume Down, Action, and Camera Control buttons)
Why Did Apple Bring iPhone Buttons Back?
When Steve Jobs made an iPhone without a few buttons, why did the Apple company start adding buttons every year on the iPhone? Steve Jobs, when he introduced the first iPhone in 2007, removed most physical buttons. His idea was to keep the design simple and let the touchscreen handle most user tasks. He believed that fewer buttons made the phone easier to use and look more modern and stylish.
There are a few reasons that a tech expert gives:
Quick Access
Physical buttons can make certain tasks faster and easier. The new buttons, such as the new Camera Control button on iPhone 16, provide quick access to frequently used features like the camera, making it easier for users to capture moments without navigating through the screen.
Customization
The new buttons are often customizable. The Action Button in newer Apple iPhones can be set up to do different things, making it more useful. The Action button – taking a quick screenshot, starting a camera, turning the turning the torch on/off, or muting the phone – can be done instantly with a button.
AI Capabilities
It is another big reason to bring the back button on the iPhone. The Camera Control button will help to integrate more AI features into their devices. Because Apple Intelligence provides additional functionalities, such as identifying objects or providing contextual information about what the camera is pointed at.
User Demand
Many users missed the convenience of having a physical button. Apple listens to user feedback and is reintroducing it to keep customers happy.
Competition
Some Android smartphones retain physical buttons for specific tasks, and Apple’s reintroduction of the buttons can be seen as a way to remain competitive and appeal to its audience.
Futuristic Plan
These buttons, especially Camera Control, can be part of Apple’s future plans. However, Apple doesn’t say it is a button; they call it a camera control feature. Many people guess that it can be used for touch ID in the future. Users will be able to perform more tasks with it. Apple does everything in its own way.
Steve Jobs wanted simplicity by removing phone buttons, but as technology has evolved and user needs have changed, Apple is bringing them back to offer a better, more flexible experience.
