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

[pencilscribbler]

Either

• raw/caseless, or
• via a hole in the case like with the silent switch, USB-C / Lightning ports. Then the button remains uncovered & functional.
  • Maybe case makers will have to reduce the thickness of their side bezels so you can reach the button…?

Looks like that’s exactly what case makers like Spigen did!
Hole in the case with tapered thinner side bezels near the button 👇🏻

Images’ source:

Spigen is ready to go with new sleek & stylish iPhone 16 Pro cases

Protect your iPhone 16 Pro with Spigen's updated case lineup, which features cool teardown designs and aramid fiber options.

appleinsider.com

 

[subjonas]

How do Apple cases work with this?

 

[RealE]

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

Or the lock screen button (aka "side button" as they're now calling it) like the iPad Air's "top button"

 

[happycamp3r]

Despite all of the negativity in this reply thread, I'm really into the new camera button. I take a lot of pictures and it will nice to be able to activate the camera without even looking at the phone. I'm super into it, and can't wait to try it! I should mention that I did use the iphone 15 pro silent button and reprogrammed it as my camera for a while and loved it! I eventually changed it back because of course I didn't have a quick means of silencing my phone. It will be awesome to have both! This is probably the reason that they had to redesign the whole thing.

 

[netsped]

If I hold my iPhone with the power button up and try to take a picture my fingers get on the way, am I holding it wrong or is this button placement the worst they could choose?

fyi if I hold it with the volume buttons up I can get a good steady grip and keep my fingers out of the way.

 

[maverick2007]

Despite all of the negativity in this reply thread, I'm really into the new camera button. I take a lot of pictures and it will nice to be able to activate the camera without even looking at the phone. I'm super into it, and can't wait to try it! I should mention that I did use the iphone 15 pro silent button and reprogrammed it as my camera for a while and loved it! I eventually changed it back because of course I didn't have a quick means of silencing my phone. It will be awesome to have both! This is probably the reason that they had to redesign the whole thing.

Wow, that’s really nice. You are paying $1k+ for that one button. No wonder how apple fools humankind again!!!!!

 

[netsped]

Is that google lens type of thing limited to iPhones with this button? Really hope it’s not.

 

[alexandr]

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

Perhaps you should spend more time on Chinese brands forums, why put yourself thought the misery of ?

 

[CloneBB]

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 do. Can’t wait for all the functionality to be available!

 

[CloneBB]

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

In a later update. Will be able hold half way down to focus and then full press ro take the photo.

 

[ForkHandles]

Name one tech device 16 versions in that ads revolutionary features rather than evolutionary ones.

It takes a hardware generational leap and total mind shift to do it.

Face it, we are at Peak Phone.
The small changes are more than enough for those with two or three year old phones to be happy.

Disagree.

For example. Plug your iPhone into a Thunderbolt enabled monitor, instantly it becomes an iPad type screen experience, it attaches to your Bluetooth input devices and bang your can do limited type desktop work for comfort.

That might be peak iPhone

 

[wbeasley]

Disagree.

For example. Plug your iPhone into a Thunderbolt enabled monitor, instantly it becomes an iPad type screen experience, it attaches to your Bluetooth input devices and bang your can do limited type desktop work for comfort.

That might be peak iPhone

but many would never do that and would consider those as irrelevant "features"...

you can already screenshare if you need to. Yes, Thunderbolt has greater speed but would that make it worthwhile for the extra cost and limited use?

there's plenty of people saying they arent upgrading from a 15 or 14 or 13... to them it means theyve reached Peak Phone.

 

[Downhilltenago]

Can’t wait to play around with this and make it become the norm for me. Intuitive!✌🏾

 

[fpnc]

IMO, this is probably the best upgrade to the non-pro iPhone in a long time. Much faster processor, longer battery life, and the new camera buttons that will turn this into a near replacement for practically any point-and-shoot camera that uses a 1" format or smaller sensor (note, a so-called 1" sensor has a diagonal measurement of only 16mm).

Of course, you give up the option of having a "super zoom" lens but I think I'd rather have the spatial video in the iPhone rather than a crazy-long zoom lens since in a few more years I'll probably have an Apple Vision headset. Besides, as they always say the "best" camera is the one you always have with you.

That said, if I want to do some high-end imaging I'll just get out my full-frame Nikon Z8.

 

[neo61uk]

Is it me or is this button way too far to be comfortably reached with pointing finger? It seems you need to hold the phone with other hand to be able to reach this or you will be covering 1/3 of the screen. Disappointed with this button location. Should be much closer to the edge.

 

[Fatboy71]

I use the swipe as the primary way to open the camera, hope it never goes away

There should at least be an option to enable or disable this feature. Especially now with the iPhone 16 having the Camera Control button.

 

[svish]

Camera control button will be useful. Nice to see that it is available on all the models.

 

[Ifti]

I hardly ever use the newly added button from last year. While I admit I'd use this camera button more, its not enough to tempt me - looks like its a skip from me thi syear. I want an upgrade from my 15PM to feel like an actual upgrade.

 

[aim1]

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

Yeah but none of those Chinese companies can legally call it an “iPhone” and my wife’s boyfriend will bully me if I don’t have an “iPhone”.

 

[spazzcat]

Wow, that’s really nice. You are paying $1k+ for that one button. No wonder how apple fools humankind again!!!!!

You paid full price? I trade my old phone in when I upgrade.

 

[Seanm87]

I know this place is a cesspit of negativity but I think this button will be quite useful for me so looking forward to it.

 

[scorpio vega]

Excited for this

 

[scorpio vega]

I know this place is a cesspit of negativity but I think this button will be quite useful for me so looking forward to it.

Haha as expected on macrumors, negativity.

I agree 100 percent and I’m looking forward to it as well.

 

[ForkHandles]

but many would never do that and would consider those as irrelevant "features"...

you can already screenshare if you need to. Yes, Thunderbolt has greater speed but would that make it worthwhile for the extra cost and limited use?

there's plenty of people saying they arent upgrading from a 15 or 14 or 13... to them it means theyve reached Peak Phone.

Actually you are right in that sense. I still think there is loads more that technology can bring to phones. But if you have a 12pro then there is little reason to buy a 16pro. There’s very little the 12 can’t do.

But imagine if they make the phone solar powered. It’s always at 100% during the day. Imagine they could sort out spatial video so you could watch everything you film in 3D without spending £4,000 on a headset. Imagine if they made AirTags triple clickable to double lock your iPhone if it got snatched. Imagine if they sorted out the microphones so it recorded spatial sound. Imagine if they unified messaging so you only had one messaging app that was fed by every other app using AI. Imagine if they could produce little holograms instead of AR so we could relive Princess Leia calling for help. Imagine if they could analyse and fact check speech in real time to see if you were being lied to.

So much more still to do.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Imagine they could sort out spatial video so you could watch everything you film in 3D without spending £4,000 on a headset. if they sorted out the microphones so it recorded spatial sound. Imagine if they unified messaging so you only had one messaging app that was fed by every other app using AI.

We have already had 3-D screens on phones around 2011, they were awful.
The new iPhone 16 Pro has a new set of microphones that let you… You guessed it… Record in Spatial Audio. It was literally demonstrated during the keynote.

Universal Message apps already exist, and iOS allows them in the European Union.

So… one thing that’s already been done and was awful, a thing that apple is already doing, and the third thing that already exists elsewhere.
I think it says a lot when people complain about no innovation… And the only thing they can come up with is a 3D screen (hello HTC) and some other things that already exist or (my favorite) things Apple already added.