iPhone 16e Supports Visual Intelligence Without Camera Control Button

[MacRumors]

Visual Intelligence, an Apple Intelligence feature that has thus far been tied to the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 models, is available on the iPhone 16e even though it does not have the dedicated button for activating the camera.

On its website, Apple says that the Visual Intelligence can be activated on the iPhone 16e using the Action button or the Control Center.

"With a press, you can use visual intelligence, call your best friend, launch your favorite app, and more," reads the description of the feature.

Tying Visual Intelligence to the Camera Control button was a convenient way for Apple to explain why the feature wasn't added to the iPhone 15 Pro models, but it's clear the feature can work on the older iPhones if it can be used with the Action button on the 16e.

It's possible that Apple will add Visual Intelligence support to the iPhone 15 Pro models in an upcoming iOS update, but it's also equally possible that it will remain an iPhone 16 feature.

Article Link: iPhone 16e Supports Visual Intelligence Without Camera Control Button

 

[Nickerbocker]

Thats fine. I'm suspicious that the camera control button is even going to survive to the next generation. I keep trying to adjust my picture setting with it and almost always find using the touch screen faster and more covenant at finding and selecting the right options. It is nice as a basic button to open the camera and take a quick picture but the touch functionality is weak IMO.

 

[alayal]

If they don’t do it for the iPhone 15 pro would be so stupid

 

[Jhonjhon236]

If this still remains an iPhone 16 series exclusive feature and not released to the 15 Pro (especially when it has been proven that you can run it on the 15 Pro) that would be super silly.

 

[JonathanParker]

Hopefully we see Visual Intelligence coming to iPhone 15 Pro’s action button tonight in iOS 18.4 beta 1 (or in a later beta.)

 

[TheAppleGuySL]

iPhone 14 has been discontinued! It's no longer on Apple's website.

 

[Kylo83]

got the 16 pro Max and never used apple intelligence or the camera button

 

[Radeon85]

I called this out in Dec 2024 that they could have used the action button for the 15 PM, or even a software button in the camera app, there was no reason why this could not work on older phones if they have the hardware requirements and not the actual button. Come on Apple, bring this to the 15 PM then, as you have no damn excuse now!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-18-2-what-you-can-do-with-visual-intelligence.2445369/post-33625070

 

[JPack]

Visual Intelligence requiring Camera Control button was always a silly gatekeeping feature. But this is Apple being Apple. The most silly instance of gatekeeping was iPhone 14 supporting new features when it had the same SoC as iPhone 13.

 

[oofio2461]

hopefully the 15 pro gets it on 18.4 release, but I don't have my hopes up.

 

[Jamie0003]

I have a 15 pro max and completely forget the action button even exists, the camera control is even more unnecessary. I love that I can now automate the mute function of my phone though, I never liked having a silent switch. I feel like the action button could be made way more useful by giving you a single tap, double tap, triple tap and hold down function

Hopefully comes via a software update

 

[mansplains]

If they don’t do it for the iPhone 15 pro would be so stupid

If this still remains an iPhone 16 series exclusive feature and not released to the 15 Pro (especially when it has been proven that you can run it on the 15 Pro) that would be super silly.

Thankfully visual intelligence is pretty useless, so those without aren’t missing much in its current stage.

 

[The Oak]

Having a 15 Pro ... this is definitely a slap in the face.

 

[Stiille]

Is that a „proof“ that it could come for 15 Pro / Pro Max too?
I hope so!

 

[volcom45]

As others are stating, if they don’t give the 15 Pro’s action button the same option to call Visual Intelligence, I’ll be very upset!

 

[thefrost]

In other words, it isn't restricted by hardware.

 

[SebCohen]

If they don’t do it for the iPhone 15 pro would be so stupid

Noooo...it's only fair no? 🥸

Visual Intelligence requiring Camera Control button was always a silly gatekeeping feature. But this is Apple being Apple. The most silly instance of gatekeeping was iPhone 14 supporting new features when it had the same SoC as iPhone 13.

 

[Radeon85]

Got to love fragmentation,

To use Visual Intelligence you need a 16 Pro with a camera button, 15 Pro it's tough luck for you, or the 16e you can use the action button that the 15 Pro has, but you can't, or if you want to use the action button for it on the 16 Pro you can't either!

Who the bloody hell is in charge of UI designs these days because they honestly don't know what they are doing, even more baffling is multiple people have seen this and signed off on it.

 

[Kylo83]

Got to love fragmentation,

To use Visual Intelligence you need a 16 Pro with a camera button, 15 Pro it's tough luck for you, or the 16e you can use the action button that the 15 Pro has, but you can't, or if you want to use the action button for it on the 16 Pro you can't either!

Who the bloody hell is in charge of UI designs these days because they honestly don't know what they are doing, even more baffling is multiple people have seen this and signed off on it.

You can see the people in charge and they should not be in charge of design, I think Apple is long gone from the days of good design

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Thats fine. I'm suspicious that the camera control button is even going to survive to the next generation. I keep trying to adjust my picture setting with it and almost always find using the touch screen faster and more covenant at finding and selecting the right options. It is nice as a basic button to open the camera and take a quick picture but the touch functionality is weak IMO.

I turned all the crap and off and now the camera button is just a shutter button. It's infinitely more complicated and finicky to adjust the settings via the button vs using the on-screen controls.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Got to love fragmentation,

To use Visual Intelligence you need a 16 Pro with a camera button, 15 Pro it's tough luck for you, or the 16e you can use the action button that the 15 Pro has, but you can't, or if you want to use the action button for it on the 16 Pro you can't either!

Who the bloody hell is in charge of UI designs these days because they honestly don't know what they are doing, even more baffling is multiple people have seen this and signed off on it.

At this point, the camera button should just not exist.

 

[Radeon85]

At this point, the camera button should just not exist.

Definitely no need for it, but I really do like it. Makes zooming in and changing some settings a little quicker, and feel more like a normal camera.

 

[jmadara]

I have a 15 pro max and completely forget the action button even exists, the camera control is even more unnecessary. I love that I can now automate the mute function of my phone though, I never liked having a silent switch. I feel like the action button could be made way more useful by giving you a single tap, double tap, triple tap and hold down function

Hopefully comes via a software update

I was disappointed the action button wasn't more useful when I got it. Back tap is even worse.

 

[TechRemarker]

"but it's clear the feature can work on the older iPhones if it can be used with the Action button on the 16e."
It's not "clear" it can work on older models. As 16e is a new model. It's just clear (obviously) the feature can be involved by methods other than the camera button. On other iPhone models clearly they could have it invoked via control center, but presumably the don't have the necessary requirements for it to work which the latest pro and this latest 16e do. Or if is software only, then simply a feature they want to tie to new devices as a selling feature.

 

[omenatarhuri]

If they don’t do it for the iPhone 15 pro would be so stupid

Yeah, especially since they still sell those at a higher price. That's such a dorky thing to explain to a customer.