Buddy is a photographer and never uses it on his 16 Pro Max; said it too hard to press and it shakes the phone because of it when snapping.
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Apple to Simplify iPhone 18 Camera Control Button, Not Remove It
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Buddy is a photographer and never uses it on his 16 Pro Max; said it too hard to press and it shakes the phone because of it when snapping.
Cool. There will be new ways for me to never use this. I can hardly wait.
I don't have that problem on my 16 PM. Probably boils down to technique.
Very well could be. I'm not a professional photographer, but the button it is pretty stiff compared to my Nikon DSLR.
I'm about half a year into owning an iPhone 16. I took 3,000+ photos on one trip alone, many of them with the Camera Control.
(Even with the iOS 26 Camera app redesign, I don't think you get a good overview of "OK, what are all my settings? Especially the ones that diverge from the defaults?")
- when holding it in portrait, the button is more confusing than helpful. So, for basic selfies, the various old ways (long-pressing the button on the lock screen, swiping left on the lock screen, etc.) win.
- when holding it in landscape, it's positioned just right; almost like a classic compact camera.
- I occasionally don't understand what's happening. For example, it sometimes just opens to a black screen. Probably a bug?
- pressing once to open the camera, then deep-pressing to take a picture, is something that works rather well.
- …but this is where things start to fall down. I kind of get the idea of swiping to switch between zoom levels and the selfie camera, but that's already finicky enough…
- …and it gets much more finicky because you have to remember what mode you're in. Are you actually on zoom/camera selection? (Trick question! "Zoom" is actually another mode!) Or are you on styles, tone, etc.? How many users eventually gave up using the button because they're baffled by what it's doing?
(Even with the iOS 26 Camera app redesign, I don't think you get a good overview of "OK, what are all my settings? Especially the ones that diverge from the defaults?")
Same, but then it’s sensitive to touch and changes settings. Annoying. Can’t turn off the controls once the camera is launched. If there is, I’m not aware.
Which is a win for consumers because more case manufacturers will support covering a pressure sensitive button instead of just leaving the button uncovered.
That button doesn't really add value compared to all other possibilities available to launch the camera app.
Swipe down and launch the app. Home Screen, find the icon launch the app. Multifunction button launches the app. Lock screen, launch the app. Siri... well... "Siri can you launch the camera app?" Sorry I didn't quite catch that.
I bet Apple will get rid of it sooner or later. Just like that touch bar on the MBP.
Swipe down and launch the app. Home Screen, find the icon launch the app. Multifunction button launches the app. Lock screen, launch the app. Siri... well... "Siri can you launch the camera app?" Sorry I didn't quite catch that.
I bet Apple will get rid of it sooner or later. Just like that touch bar on the MBP.
It's so dumb that they even bothered with this when the volume button can already be used to take pictures and videos, and is located in a more convenient position for one-handed use.
I've had my 16 for about 5 months. I can count on one hand how many times I've used that feature.
Just get rid of the "smart" part of it and make it a regular, two-stage shutter button. Something everyone already knows how to use.
I don't know why Apple is obsessed with reinventing everything. Some things are the way they are because they work.
I don't know why Apple is obsessed with reinventing everything. Some things are the way they are because they work.
I imagine most people under 30 have rarely if ever used a two-stage shutter button.
The camera control button is the solution to the problem no one had. LOL
It's quite true: On macrumors front page news are almost 100% complainers, who don't like anything Apple did, does or ever will do. 🤔
Press once to snap a photo, hold to start a video, half-press for a near-fullscreen preview. This is not difficult. Swipes and wipes are for touchscreens and number twos. Do your number two and flush this button on its way. Stop complicating everything.
Makes more sense.
An established Chinese leaker has pushed back against recent rumors suggesting Apple plans to eliminate the Camera Control button from the iPhone 18, instead claiming the company is working to simplify the component to reduce costs.
According to Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the Camera Control's pressure-sensitive modules for the iPhone 18 series currently remain in trial production. However, Apple is reportedly removing the capacitive sensor from the current dual-sensor design, and opting instead to rely solely on pressure sensing to achieve all button functions.
The current Camera Control button on iPhone 16 models uses both capacitive and pressure sensors beneath a sapphire crystal surface. The capacitive layer detects touch gestures, while the force sensor recognizes different pressure levels for taps, presses, and swipes.
Instant Digital says Apple's revised approach is similar to designs found in devices like the OPPO X8 Ultra and vivo X200 Ultra, where pressure sensors alone can recognize light taps, firm presses, and sliding gestures.
The leaker suggests cost concerns are driving the change, noting that the current solution is "genuinely very expensive" for Apple and is generating costly after-sales repairs. This is said to be creating "significant internal cost pressure" for Apple, especially since not all of its AI-powered Visual Intelligence features have fully rolled out yet, which is limiting the button's perceived value.
Instant Digital has a decent track record for leaks, suggesting this is a genuine debunk of the recent report from another Weibo account indicating that Apple would drop the Camera Control from the iPhone 18 lineup due to low user engagement. Its removal would have been quite the reversal – Apple only debuted the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series last year.
Article Link: Apple to Simplify iPhone 18 Camera Control Button, Not Remove It
I know this isn’t the common thought, but I’m glad that they don’t look to be removing it.
I use it a couple of times a day to quickly access the camera and/or visual intelligence. Yes, I could map VI to the action button, but that’s my flashlight. Unless they allow further mapping to an action button such as double or triple press, I like the camera control.
That being said, I don’t ever use it to actually control the camera, such as zoom, exposure, etc. it’s simply a quick shortcut to the camera or VI that doesn’t require any screen input first. (Pulling out of pocket and camera is up and ready to go) Also, being able to access the camera or VI from any screen is nice. Just press the button.
I think they’d be better of just making a camera shortcut button atp
I use it a couple of times a day to quickly access the camera and/or visual intelligence. Yes, I could map VI to the action button, but that’s my flashlight. Unless they allow further mapping to an action button such as double or triple press, I like the camera control.
That being said, I don’t ever use it to actually control the camera, such as zoom, exposure, etc. it’s simply a quick shortcut to the camera or VI that doesn’t require any screen input first. (Pulling out of pocket and camera is up and ready to go) Also, being able to access the camera or VI from any screen is nice. Just press the button.
I think they’d be better of just making a camera shortcut button atp
I waited for the iPhone 16 specifically because of the camera button. I am so disappointed. I have to wonder whether the folks at Apple actually ever used it before approving it. It requires too firm a push to take a picture, causing the phone to move more than using the button on the screen. The swipe gestures work maybe 50% of the time at best, and I rarely get the direction correct, so I have to swipe twice — it is easier just to use the controls on the screen. I use the camera button to launch the camera from the Lock Screen, but that is about it. This is a perfect example of how, when it comes to controls, simpler is better. A simple, tactile mechanical button that actually worked, without the silly swipe gestures, would have been far superior.
Camera Control Button is the iPhone's TouchBar
I look forward to its demise
I look forward to its demise