In UI design, any change must be justified. Even the smallest tweak can throw people off, especially after years of regular use. So many people wonder why, after a decade and a half, Apple has suddenly decided to move the end call button on the iPhone.
iOS17 moves the red ‘hang up’ button from its traditional central position to the lower right corner of the interface during calls. It might seem like a minor move, but considering the button has been in the same place since the iPhone’s launch way back in 2007, it will take some adjusting. Grab it and you’ll FaceTime someone by mistake – the horror! (if you’re looking forward to Apple’s next smartphone, check out our rundown of everything we expect from the iPhone 15 next month).
Among more radical changes coming with iOS 17, including real-time voicemail transcriptions and a bolder font, this relatively small tweak is getting a lot of attention. The beta features a redesigned iPhone app interface during calls that drops the contact icon and moves the End Call button to the bottom right corner of the menu.
This means that anyone who automatically reaches to press where they would normally hang up will end up hitting the FaceTime button or dial pad. Some users are already anticipating accessibility issues and “traumatic” accidents.
Hmm, #Apple moving “end call” button in latest beta will take time to get used to as all changes are. Not quite sure why the change is necessary after a decade and a half of the interface being the way it is. The iPhone app interface when in a call has… pic.twitter.com/fW4z4QJA4V10 August 2023
The end call button in the lower right corner simply doesn’t work on #iOS17, it’s much more natural to just center your thumb and tap to end a call. Why are you trying to become a bad version of Android. @Apple pic.twitter.com/VkZeLVIIzQ16 July 2023
Am I the only one who thinks the red “end call” button should be in the bottom center?? Holding an iPhone 14 Pro Max with your left hand makes it almost impossible to end a call… pic.twitter.com/RftIbmplN76 August 2023
Judging by responses to Twitter, users of the beta version are already having some problems. “I’ve clicked on FaceTime sooo many times trying to get the keyboard,” one person wrote. “Already imagining the trauma of an accidental call ending,” tweeted another. Left-handed users are particularly unhappy. “Holding an iPhone 14 Pro Max with your left hand makes it nearly impossible to end a call,” claimed one person.
So is this change just for the sake of change? Currently, it seems unnecessary for current iPhones. Even for right-handed users, the bottom-right button doesn’t place it closer to your thumb if you grip the phone with your thumb on the side button. And while the red color helps with identification, it doesn’t help someone with color vision deficiency.
However, UI changes are often carefully planned, and it’s possible that Apple is making this tweak now to ease the transition to future changes further down the line, perhaps with the addition of new capabilities. Only time will tell how long it takes people to adjust. See below for the best current iPhone 14 prices or see our roundup of the best iPhone 14 prices.
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