Apple is making a noteworthy adjustment to the way iPhone users terminate calls, and this alteration is likely to evoke frustration among users.
Despite Apple’s image as a pioneering force in the smartphone realm, it is often one of the slowest to implement modifications to the iPhone or iOS. Even minor alterations can impact the usage habits of millions of iPhone owners, prompting Apple to meticulously and gradually introduce changes. The recent tweak involves relocating the “end call” button in iOS.
The latest iOS 17 beta 5 release includes a change to the placement of the end call button on the call screen. The once-prominent and easily identifiable center spot for the button has been shifted to the right corner. This shift also affects the positioning of other buttons, creating a cluster of buttons at the bottom of the screen where the solitary red button used to reside.
While some might dismiss this alteration as insignificant, it actually has substantial implications for user experience. This shift contradicts a decade of ingrained muscle memory for countless iPhone users. The solitary red button at the bottom was distinctive and unmissable, minimizing the chances of accidentally pressing other buttons while attempting to end a call.
In the iOS 17 update, however, the end call button is grouped with buttons of similar shape and size. Although the color remains red, the uniformity in appearance and placement of the button is likely to confuse many users. People may inadvertently tap the keypad or mute button instead of ending the call, necessitating a period of adaptation to the new placement.
Interestingly, the original location of the end call button on the caller UI screen was not a feature that users desired to be improved. The rationale behind Apple’s decision to make this change is puzzling, especially considering the potential for user confusion.
Given that this is still a beta version, there remains a possibility that Apple might revert to the original placement before the stable release of iOS 17.
