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iPhone 18 Expected to Fix a Major iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 Annoyance

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All of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models are equipped with a Camera Control button that provides quick access to the Camera app and camera settings, but not everyone is a fan of it. Fortunately, though, Apple apparently plans to improve it.

iPhone-16-Camera-Control.jpg

The Information today reported that Apple plans to remove touch sensitivity and haptic feedback from the Camera Control on the standard iPhone 18 model, which suggests that it will be removing the button's capacitive layer. The report did not say if this change will extend to the iPhone 18 Pro models, but it seems likely for consistency.

A simplified Camera Control button for iPhone 18 models has been rumored previously.

With this change, iPhone 18 users would not be able to swipe on the Camera Control, which is something many users have complained about doing by accident. The redesigned button would only have pressure sensitivity.

The report said simplifying the Camera Control would reduce Apple's costs, but it seems quite likely that the company is also listening to customer feedback.

Apple has already taken steps to give users more control over the Camera Control's behavior, including adding a "Require Screen On" setting in iOS 18.2. And when you set up a new iPhone, the swipe gestures are now turned off by default.

Apple is expected to release the iPhone 18 Pro models next September, while the regular iPhone 18 model reportedly will not launch until spring 2027.

Article Link: iPhone 18 Expected to Fix a Major iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 Annoyance
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/12/16/iphone-18-to-fix-an-annoyance/
Hope that means we get better case options for the 18-series. I feel case design kind of fell apart trying to react to this capacitive button.
 
I feel like it would be nice if it was a touch-id button. Like the iPad mini's power button. I was initially excited, but then I realised that I had read it wrong that "...Apple apparently plans to remove it..." I personally don't like it nor use it, but it is good to read that there are people who actually make use of it - options for every use case.
 
I wish they let you customize the camera control (and action button) to support double-press, long hold, and other shortcut actions. I miss Activator from the jailbreak days.
 
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My annoyance: that Apple Music stays in portrait mode when you play it in landscape mode (which you do to play in Left/Right stereo to match your ears rather than top/bottom audio)
 
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If it really listened to customer feedback. They would check their QC of Macbook Pro production whereas all screens come with dents and microscratches. And fix the hardware design flaw of iPhone 17 Pro (Max) models that make a buzzing coilwhine sound from the bottom speakers when charging it USB.
 
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AlexESP said:
I got used to zooming with it, which took time, but now I really like it. I hope they don’t remove it from the Pro phones.
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Is that a pro-only feature? On 16 standard and all I manage is to adjust the frikking tone when i by accident hold down too long.
 
But wait, Tim Apple said the iPhone 17 is the best iPhone ever made… And they are telling us the best ever iPhone has annoyances… Oh no!
 
MacUserFella said:
I feel like this would be better as some kind of setting, I like the touch sensitivity and haptics, removing that would kinda make the Camera Control button feel not as special
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indeed. apple has a funny way now of "listening" to users. if they heard, they would give us the disable liquid glass with slider rather than tossing us a bone for just the clock. they would get that crud off macos. I don't want to give up the camera slider. my pitaka case work great with its capacitive button.
 
We've seen this story before and it was called 3D Touch.

The first rumor is usually the correct one and it's about reducing cost rather than "customer feedback." Think about it, the camera is getting more (not less) sophisticated on iPhone 18 Pro/Max.
 
AlexESP said:
I got used to zooming with it, which took time, but now I really like it. I hope they don’t remove it from the Pro phones.
Click to expand...
This is my experience as well. Took a week or so of using it on and off to click. Now it makes sense and it’s quite nice to zoom that way. But I also get that it’s completely aggravating at first.
 
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mrat93 said:
I wish they let you customize the camera control (and action button) to support double-press, long hold, and other shortcut actions. I miss Activator from the jailbreak days.
Click to expand...
Or even bypass Apple’s restrictions for certain actions. I have to hit the action button twice at least to invoke the flashlight, because the software is trying to prevent accidental triggers. I don’t care if there’s a light on in my pocket if it means the light being turned on when I’m trying to use it. Same with the camera action being disabled if it’s in your pocket, give us an override.
 
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