Here's What the New iPhone 16 Camera Control Button Can Do

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 16 models that Apple previewed today all feature a new Camera Control button that's located on the right side of the iPhone under the power button. The Camera Control button can be used for a number of different functions when capturing images and video.

Apple says that the Camera Control button is meant to work in either landscape or portrait mode, and it was built with a force sensor and touch sensor to support different gestures.

• Single click - Open up the Camera app (or a third-party app).
• Single click, Camera open - Take a photo.
• Click and hold - Open Camera app, start a video recording.
• Light press - Open up controls like zoom. This button will also lock focus and exposure (coming this fall) for reframing shots without losing focus.
• Double light press - Bring up the camera preview menu to choose different controls like exposure or depth of field.
• Swipe - Swap through available adjustment options, and also change parameters like zoom, exposure, or depth of field when a control is selected.

The button has deep software support, so you can also swap between control functions without having to go into the Camera app manually.

• Adjust zoom
• Adjust exposure
• Adjust depth of field
• Swipe through different stylistic options

Third-party developers will be able to take advantage of the Camera Control for their apps for adjusting settings, and it will work in social media apps like Snapchat.

Later this year, Camera Control will be able to work with a new visual intelligence feature. Users will be able to open the Camera app and point it at an object to get information about that object with a click and hold gesture. Pointing it at a restaurant, for example, will bring up hours and ratings, while pointing it at a plant will identify the plant. Using visual control with something that has a date, such as a flyer, will add the date to the Calendar app.

Camera Control will work as a gateway to third-party tools, such as when users want to search Google for an item to buy or use ChatGPT to solve a problem.

There are settings that will allow users to change the double press speed and the sensitivity of the button for a light press.

The Camera Control has a sapphire crystal covering with a smooth texture, surrounded by stainless steel trim. It is inset into the iPhone's frame just a bit, and the force sensor has haptic feedback to make it feel like a DSLR camera shutter.

Article Link: Here's What the New iPhone 16 Camera Control Button Can Do

 

[shweep]

What's going to stop you from opening your camera app every time you pull the phone out of your pocket?

 

[maverick2007]

Steve Jobs must be very happy in his Grave that Apple is innovating upon iPhone's Inception in 2007, last few years eMoji innovation, and now this button! I know your next move Warren Buffet

 

[macduke]

Will non-camera apps be able to use this for control? I'm not even sure what they would be yet, but I'm sure some imaginative dev or designer could come up with something.

 

[Hammerd]

You forgot “power button decoy”

 

[stiligFox]

What's going to stop you from opening your camera app every time you pull the phone out of your pocket?

“We’ve programmed the most intuitive and predictive AI to know when you mean to press the camera button, and when you don’t to prevent you from inadvertently activating the camera when you don’t mean to”

 

[contacos]

Ain't gonna remember all of that. Point and shoot all the way for me.

 

[Octavius8]

So happy this is least exciting iPhone “upgrade” in years, so l am not be tempted to spend a lot to change my 15PM this year!.
Thank you apple for your lack of innovation, so happy!

 

[SoldOnApple]

So it creates a temporary notch when you rub against that button?

 

[G725]

Ok, but does it also work as a shutter button?

 

[Octavius8]

Will non-camera apps be able to use this for control? I'm not even sure what they would be yet, but I'm sure some imaginative dev or designer could come up with something.

Sure, like Dynamic Island!

 

[Jmausmuc]

A new button last year now another new button. At first I thought this was a joke.

Why would we need another button when we have a touch screen?

I am really confused by this. Who actually wants this?

 

[frostbit3]

Missed opportunity to make this TouchID as well

 

[Octavius8]

Steve Jobs must be very happy in his Grave that Apple is innovating upon iPhone's Inception in 2007, last few years eMoji innovation, and now this button! I know your move next Warren Buffet

Surely you are not sarcastically implying that this trillion dollar company is basically selling us the same iPhone from 2 or 3 years ago with with minor updates that all Chinese brands have since forever including no notch, on screen Touch ID, 10x cameras, faster charging, longer battery life, 120hz screens in lower tiers, foldable screens, etc. right?. That would be sooooo not accurate

 

[GrayFlannel]

Apple has strangled the year over year camera changes to bloody death. The average selfie today is no better than 3+ years ago. Apple wagers on customers not having the intellect to look beyond their marketing tactics. So far Apple is killing it with their customer’s dense gullibility.

 

[coolfactor]

So happy this is least exciting iPhone “upgrade” in years, so l am not be tempted to spend a lot to change my 15PM this year!.
Thank you apple for your lack of innovation, so happy!

Okay... list three innovations that you'd like to see.

We're waiting.

*shakes head*

 

[Jmausmuc]

The iPhone 16 non pro is still 60hz only 😂😂

 

[rafark]

but I'm sure some imaginative dev or designer could come up with something.

And this is why I always say Apple depends more on developers than the other way around when the topic of the AppStore fees comes up. It’s the devs that make the iPhone have a value. This new dynamic button and your post is a perfect example.

 

[PhillyGuy72]

Missed opportunity to make this TouchID as well

This was my thought also, OR perhaps update the Action button for Touch ID.

 

[PowerButton]

It sort of reminds me of the MBP Touch Bar, so many touted uses…

I could be wrong though and find a use for it, but it won’t be on the 16.

 

[Jmausmuc]

Okay... list three innovations that you'd like to see.

We're waiting.

*shakes head*

It’s on the 3B company with their millionaire Silicon Valley engineers to come up with something, not on the customers.

 

[coolfactor]

A new button last year now another new button. At first I thought this was a joke.

Why would we need another button when we have a touch screen?

I am really confused by this. Who actually wants this?

I want it. I constantly fight with opening up the Camera quick enough. A dedicated button transforms the phone into a point-and-shoot. Love it!

 

[wbeasley]

Surely you are not sarcastically implying that this trillion dollar company is basically selling us the same iPhone from 2 or 3 years ago with with minor updates that all Chinese brands have since forever including no notch, on screen Touch ID, 10x cameras, faster charging, longer battery life, 120hz screens in lower tiers, foldable screens, etc. right?. That would be sooooo not accurate

There’s some bitter people who like to just complain. Or perhaps they want a 16 but just can’t justify doing it this year.
Edit: seems the bitterness is currently running at 33%

 

[chrono1081]

Am I reading the specs on Apples site correctly? The only difference between the two pro-max's is the one has larger battery? If so I want the smaller phone. I only went with the bigger phones for the extra camera features.

 

[RecentlyConverted]

I bet that button goes the same way as force touch (iPhone / Apple watch) and Touch bar (Mac). I give it to iPhone 18.