8. AI and the Future of Volume Keys
Manufacturers are starting to reconsider these buttons completely. The next Galaxy S25 lets customers summon Google Gemini, the company’s AI assistant, simply holding a side key. Meanwhile, OnePlus has replaced its traditional alert slider with a fully customized “Plus Key,” which can be used to launch everything from the camera to automation tasks. What began as a volume rocker is now evolving into a personalized control center.
