iPhone 18 Could Drop Camera Control Button, Claims Dubious Rumor

[lilkwarrior]

It was never a good idea to begin with. Many of the 'controls' one could use - aperture, focal length via cropping, styles - could be manipulated after taking the photo in the first instance.

…Many people (especially creatives and enthusiasts of photo/video) want to more quickly use such features in real-time important to capture and realize a vision for a photo/video. The feature enables this with no quick alternative across mobile platforms.

 

[hugogogo2003]

It was a terrible feature from the beginning. Impossible to use in real life, way too gimmicky to navigate between the modes. It might be easier to use in landscape mode (with two hands only), but impossible in portrait. And because in portrait mode, touching it was so awkward, it keeps messing up between modes unintentionally, which led me to disable the feature altogether. Now I solely use it as a camera launch button and a shutter.

 

[Paddle1]

For some of the people saying they do use it, I don't think opening a camera app or snapping a photo really count as taking advantage of the Camera Control. The Action Button and volume buttons can do those things and they don't actually make use of the CC hardware. Apple likely won't consider that kind of use if they're looking to cut costs and remove it.

 

[neuropsychguy]

So about the same as Gurman?

He at least has a history of overall accurate rumors: https://appletrack.com/leaderboard/ (I don't agree with the methods of that site as rumors should be weighted but Gurman is more accurate than often thought online).

 

[thefrost]

Camera Control solved a problem that never existed.

 

[ab2c4]

I don’t like it at all so I hope it goes.

 

[DavidLeblond]

Am I the only one that uses mine? I use mine probably 99% of the time (the 1% is when it suddenly stops working, which is probably more like 5% now that I think of it.)

Only thing that drives me crazy is for switching lenses I always swipe the wrong direction.

 

[Undecided]

At first I dismissed it but now that I've been traveling extensively, I use it all the time. But I only use it to launch the camera, not to adjust various settings.

 

[JamesMay82]

I still do the old school way of swiping up and using the Home Screen app... even in emergency's its the way I do it... old habits I guess..

I normally press the new camera button by accident which is annoying.

 

[McWetty]

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?

My caveman brain just connected the dots… THIS is why I never use the camera button. It’s not placed where a shutter button should intuitively be (unless you’re Shaq). It’s also going to take me a LONG time to reprogram my brain to not use the volume button.

 

[Mity]

The camera touch bar is a failure. Who knew???

 

[DrewDaHilp1]

I use mine only to open the camera app. Im right handed but hold the phone with my left.

 

[stocklen]

I predicted this the day it was revealed....
It just seemed like the Touch Bar all over again, or the Force Touch screen.....

It provides no functions that arent available elsewhere and actually using it, or trying to use it, is just fiddly and unintuitive. Im not surprised to hear that a lot of iPhone owners dont bother with it - I dont.

I would be surprised if it only lasted 2 years though, I was expecting more like 4 until Apple gave up on it - but if people arent using it then it should be dropped sooner rather than later.
Somehow I doubt that its loss will equate to a drop in price though (even though it should)

AND - big indicator here is that in iOS26 there was NO mention of the button, or any changes in the way it works or what it does - none. That doesn't seem like something Apple have a lot of interest in anymore and its only been a year.

 

[LincolnNE]

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.

Questionable claim, no proven track record, no source, no corroboration but still worth repeating.
Mostly known for aggregating other sources rumors: Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[iZac]

'3D Touch' says welcome to the club.

Now that Apple have killed the mute switch, they could just integrate this into the Action button so users who don't use the camera controls can remap it to whatever they want.

 

[citysnaps]

Making tons of photos with my 16 PM, I use the camera button all the time. It's a very handy feature when framing a photo.

Hope the above is truly just a rumor.

 

[timmodugdale]

I would be okay with that, but the article is ridiculous. What does it take to become a source for a MacRumors article these days? The article essentially states that the source is no more reliable than a random person on the street. So, if I wrote a blog post claiming that the upcoming iPhone case would be made of platinum, would you publish that article?

 

[contacos]

I only use it to open the camera but there are already 473828282 ways to do this tbh.

It requires too big of a learning curve, too much fiddling around with it like the pressure sensitive thing just feels strange, literally and the position makes the phone too prone to dropping it. It's like trying to hit a target on 2 Promille of alcohol.

 

[thebeans]

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?



Buy a 15 Pro case?

15 Pro and 16 Pro are different sizes. Cases are not interchangeable.

 

[MrRom92]

Not a bad idea in concept, just maybe a pointless one. They absolutely botched the execution though.
It really is pointless as it currently exists, other than to give quick access to the camera app (and oftentimes, accidental/unwanted access to the camera app)
At which point you still have to use the screen as it is completely useless for taking photographs


It is amazing it made it all the way through testing and validation as it currently exists. There is no way anybody in Apple actually thinks it’s good.

 

[klasma]

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.

Direct link:

 

[Plutonius]

It seems like anyone can get their rumors accepted and reported.

 

[DukeSilver79]

Since I have it, I decided to use it and I've grown to like it. That being said, it could've been done better, and I don't see it lasting long, like 3D Touch.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Does anyone use it? I literally forget it's there.

 

[thebeans]

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

I like having it as an option. I don’t always use it, but it is great for getting a shot quickly and for weird angles. At my work, I sometimes use my phone to “see” behind things by sticking the camera in a small space. The side button can be used to take the pic much easier than the on-screen button. The first case I had had a cutout. I didn’t care for that. I got a Tiny Owl case with a built in button and it is MUCH better. Feels better in the hand. No weak spot there. So I very much hope they keep the button.