iPhone 18 Could Drop Camera Control Button, Claims Dubious Rumor

[MacRumors]

This year's upcoming iPhone 17 models could be the last of Apple's smartphones to include a Camera Control button because not enough iPhone owners are using it, claims a questionable new rumor out of China.

In a post Tuesday, Weibo-based account "OvO OvO OvO OvO" (previously "OvO Baby Sauce OvO") claimed that Apple has informed suppliers it won't continue ordering the component, citing low engagement among users and a desire to cut costs.

It's a questionable claim, to say the least. The leaker behind it has no proven track record, is known mostly for aggregating other people's rumors, and has provided no source for this particular assertion. Without further evidence or corroborating reports, the suggestion that Apple is already planning to drop the Camera Control button should be treated with caution.

That being said, the button has proven divisive ever since its debut on the iPhone 16 series. Some users appreciate the added tactile control for zooming and quick adjustments, and have even likened it to professional camera hardware. However, others report they barely use it and consider it redundant alongside existing on-screen controls.

Whether Apple continues to refine Camera Control, rethinks its role, or phases it out entirely will likely depend on how much value it ultimately adds for the majority of users. Speculation about its demise is almost surely premature, but it just goes to show how polarizing a new button can be – Apple faced similar discontent when it swapped out the mute switch for the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro models.

• iPhone 16 Camera Control: Everything You Need to Know

Do you find Camera Control useful? Would you miss it if Apple nixed it from the iPhone 18 series? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Could Drop Camera Control Button, Claims Dubious Rumor

 

[MacUserFella]

Literally Apple:

 

[berrymetal]

Let's just say I wouldn't be sad about it...

 

[Kylo83]

To be honest, this button was a downfall for Apple for me

 

[Total Respray]

I would be happy for someone to manufacture a high quality leather case without a cutout for the camera control.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

"OvO OvO OvO OvO" (previously "OvO Baby Sauce OvO")

Hmmmm..

As for the rumor, well, it is pretty worthless. I completely disabled all the swipe/adjustment features and turned mine into a plain old shutter button. Works well for that, but that's not what Apple intended.

 

[thosmatthews]

I use a 13 pro personally and a 16 for work. This button drives me crazy. Always accidentally opening the camera. Always moving camera things I don’t want to. A weird addition I wouldn’t miss at all when I come to replace my 13 pro.

 

[Paradoxally]

Well yeah, that feature is trash. The button is placed way too high so when you rotate the device horizontally you need to move your finger higher up to compensate.

It's baffling that it doesn't even feel intuitive. Did Apple learn nothing from shutter buttons on cameras?

I would be happy for someone to manufacture a high quality leather case without a cutout for the camera control.

Buy a 15 Pro case?

 

[gatorvet96]

I don’t like the button. It weakens the edge of my case where they had to alter it for the button. I also rarely use it. I usually still use the volume button to snap photos.

 

[AusMness]

Okay so I’m upgrading this September and holding on to whatever I get for a long as possible then, removing it is so stupid

 

[HouseLannister]

So we are calling BS on the second camera button rumor for the 17 now?

The last thing the iPhone 17 Pro needs is yet another button

The iPhone already has too many buttons. There, I said it.

www.macworld.com

 

[attila]

Weren't the two only selling points of the iPhone 16 Apple Intelligence and this camera control? Looks like that went well...

Just give us a new iPhone mini already!

 

[lazyrighteye]

I take a healthy amount of photos/videos. That button is not part of that workflow.

 

[Cobold]

I use a 13 pro personally and a 16 for work. This button drives me crazy. Always accidentally opening the camera. Always moving camera things I don’t want to. A weird addition I wouldn’t miss at all when I come to replace my 13 pro.

You can disable the button completely. That's what I did on my 16 PM on day 1. The button is ultra clumsy to use and does add nothing. Everything it does, I can do with on screen controls.
That camera control is one of, if not THE stupidest additions to the iPhone I my opinion.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy52]

I'm on a 16 Pro and originally didn't think it was useful, but I've found myself coming around to it in the past six months or so. I'm still not completely sold—I'd love it to be (more) customizable—but I've found it to be less of a hassle than I originally thought it was last November.

 

[rumorphobe]

I think it’s essential for quickly opening the camera. I love it. But the touch features never worked properly for me and I stopped using them for zoom. But for opening the camera and sometimes taking the photo, they should keep it

 

[n4uaj]

I just traded a 14 pro for a 16 pro last month and honestly I find it very convenient especially for the quicker access to the camera. Like if I see a deer or a grandchild is doing something cute just 2 presses of the camera control catches it.

 

[thiscatisfat]

a desire to cut costs.

Typical Tim Cook and his finance bros mindset. If you haven't watched Apple Explained's last video on how greedy the finance bros at the helm of Apple are, I highly recommend it. They're literally driving the company to the ground, devalued by 1T in just 4 months! Finally make a good product, Apple, it's been years since I've felt the excitement for upcoming products and stop, cutting, cost.

 

[Godspeed8230]

Weren't the two only selling points of the iPhone 16 Apple Intelligence and this camera control? Looks like that went well...

Just give us a new iPhone mini already!

I‘d say: Give us a new SE in a compact format.

 

[zombierunner]

Good. It is utterly pointless and makes cases less protective.

 

[Gix1k]

It's just more signs of Apple being out of ideas. The button is dumb! I've never done anything with it but open the camera. Even then I have to click it 2/3 times.

 

[thiscatisfat]

I'm on a 16 Pro and originally didn't think it was useful, but I've found myself coming around to it in the past six months or so. I'm still not completely sold—I'd love it to be (more) customizable—but I've found it to be less of a hassle than I originally thought it was last November.

It's giving me the touch bar on Macbooks vibes. I personally love the touch bar and find it useful because I figured out how to make good use of it, such a shame that Apple can't make it more useful but instead they want to "cut cost" and get rid of it. The button will die quicker than the touchbar did.

 

[Sami13496]

Whether Apple continues to refine Camera Control, rethinks its role, or phases it out entirely will likely depend on how much value it ultimately adds for the majority of users.

So nowadays Apple is looking for problems to match pointless ”solutions” instead of innovating solutions for real needs and problems.

They should drop camera control button from iPhone 17 lineup if you ask me.

 

[Dirk Pieters]

My wife has an iPhone 16 Pro with the transparant cover from Apple - I think. It's very slippery to hold and every time I pick it up off the table I somehow hit that camera button.

I'm still on a 14 Pro and see no added value in that button. Can it be disabled? I honestly have no idea.

 

[tridley68]

Can we really trust China just have to wait and see what happens .