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It’s up to the user whether they want it to work when screen is on/off or on only.

Settings >Display & brightness >Camera Control>require screen on toggle

Mine is set to open with a double click whether the screen is on or off so it always opens consistently and never on accident.
Good to know. Thanks!
 
Good video. The 16 Pro Max is a good phone. But I did not see anything compelling to upgrade from my 15 Pro Max. It is a good phone for those who are upgrading from older models.
 
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Well thanks for this honest review @Dan Barbera 👍 Looks like I’m still fine with my 14 Pro on iOS 17- considering we Europeans are still waiting for (most of) the AI features to be added to iOS 18.
 
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I’ve had all iterations of the iPhone. I find the 16 Pro Max disappointing (previously had the 15PM, 14PM, etc.). I’d almost pay more not to have the pointless camera button. AI is pitiful, and iOS 18 is riddled with bugs.
 
Review: It's another iPhone.
Which is a bad but also a good thing. Constant improvement over the years isn’t that exciting, but it is something you can count on. iPhone is not for people who want to change it every year. It makes little sense that way. But wait 3 generations and you’ll face a strong improvement in almost every area.
Camera control button might be already gone on the iPhone 17 air. It’s a flop
It has some good points , like to open up the camera app very quickly.
"Battery health remains at 100 percent at 101 cycles and battery life has been impressive, but this is the iPhone 16 with the biggest battery."

What is "impressive?" The battery life on my 16 PM is far worse than it was on my 13 PM on ios 17.
That’s your problem, surely not widespread. Every review showed improvement in battery life. My experience compared to a 14 PM is very good.
Here is my review:
Returned it after 5 days due to eye strain caused by its flickering display
Except there is nothing flickering in iPhone 16 PM display.
There are dozens of technical reviews online showing how good the display is.
AI is the future. I’m not saying that because i necessarily feel it should be but it’s a reality.
Exactly. This is only the first iteration, and not even completed.
I'm still with my 15PM, and still indecise if changing or not. But I think I'll wait for next one.
Any relevant improvement on camera shots image quality over the 15PM? That's the only thing on I could fall...
It NEVER is a good idea to upgrade year after year. Wait at least 2 generations (3 would be better, but being a tech enthusiast I’m usually upgrading every other year ) to see an improvement.
 
No the button is not a flop. The button is very useful, but many naive folks just learned previously to tap the display (an absolutely awful UI from a photography standpoint) and fail to grasp the improved choice the camera button represents.
Agree. Most of the people complaining about the camera button are just accustomed to the old on-screen button. And people usually are unwilling to change habits.
Camera button could be better, for sure.
Meanwhile...Why is Tim Apple's salary $75 million?
Because he is the CEO of one of the most important and successful company in the world. And who are you exactly ?
Good video. The 16 Pro Max is a good phone. But I did not see anything compelling to upgrade from my 15 Pro Max. It is a good phone for those who are upgrading from older models.
Again, iPhone 16 Pro Max is not intended to be a replacement for a 15 Pro Max. It makes little sense that way.
I upgraded from a 14 Pro Max and it barely was noticeable. Outside this tech enthusiasts forum, people upgrade every 2/3 years, and differences are more noticeable.
 
Agreed. Absolute waste of time and space and money.
Totally disagree. This has, for me, simplified the picture taking process and is far more useful than touching the screen or using one of the other buttons if you can find them when trying to get a shot. But then I take pictures in landscape 99% of the time. If they remove this button in a future release it would be a reason to keep my 16 Pro Max and not upgrade.
 
I jumped back to iPhone after ten years using Android handsets, and I've generally been happy with my 16PM. I miss the call screening of Pixels, and Siri still feels half-baked to me, but otherwise I'm enjoying the experience, especially the syncing with my other Apple devices.

I use Camera Control occasionally to try and build that muscle memory, but the placement of the button combined with my smallish hands makes it a somewhat slow and clumsy experience.
 
Except for every time I quickly need to take a picture. Way more effective than having to long press the Lock Screen camera button.
On the 15 I assigned camera to the action button to basically do the same thing. BUT it's infuriating to me it requires authentication to do that, either I wait for face ID or worse it decides now is the time to prompt for password. WTF couldn't they make it work the same way the lock screen camera works??
 
The iPhone has lost its touch, in my opinion. I know some people who remain loyal to iPhones, seemingly just for the sake of the blue bubbles in iMessage. CooCoo 🥴
 
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I have owned every iPhone, except 1. This is the worst performance and software experience I've had on any iPhone, and I'm starting to really dislike my phone.
 
Keep your 15PM. Had I not needed to replace my previous phone, I would have skipped the 16PM. iOS 18.x is a complete mess with bugs everywhere, and if you can believe it, it is even worse on the 16PM. :rolleyes: Apple has taken its eye off the ball with terrible quality control. Stop the hybrid work schedule where employees can work up to 2 days a week at home. That experiment is a complete failure.
Yes, the only possible explanation is people working from home and not that they diverted resources to focus on Apple Intelligence or Vision OS. Y’all come up with wild theories that make no sense.
 
I updated from the 12, so for me it was a substantial upgrade. Love the new buttons. Apple Intelligence is cool, but definitely not there yet. But I think it will be in time.

My biggest take away is that it is starting to feel like “ just an iPhone”. It’s not bad, but the design is just getting stale. The slim will help. A foldable would rock. But regardless we need some visual innovation. Something different.
 
Has been a very meh upgrade for me. I think I will wait three or four cycles from now on. Apple AI has not helped things much at all IMHO. The "enhanced Siri" still can't seem to get it right.
 
Has been a very meh upgrade for me. I think I will wait three or four cycles from now on. Apple AI has not helped things much at all IMHO. The "enhanced Siri" still can't seem to get it right.
One should upgrade when needed. When the old iPhone is not good enough. People would complain less about how “meh” the upgrade is
 
Here's my long term review:

1. It's too big
2. It's too heavy
3. The display is great
4. The camera control is great

I'm honestly looking forward to what the iPhone 17 Air is going to be. Thinner and lighter is what the iPhone desperately needs at this point...something that is actually comfortable to hold and use. As long as it has a 120Hz display.
 
Here's my long term review:

1. It's too big
2. It's too heavy
3. The display is great
4. The camera control is great

I'm honestly looking forward to what the iPhone 17 Air is going to be. Thinner and lighter is what the iPhone desperately needs at this point...something that is actually comfortable to hold and use. As long as it has a 120Hz display.
I really hope we won’t see a 60 Hz iPhone again, except the new SE of course
 
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Camera control button might be already gone on the iPhone 17 air. It’s a flop
I'd be surprised if Camera Control was gone that soon. Apple tends to stick with - even unpopular scenarios - a cycle or three longer than might be expected/warranted. Almost out of spite. But I do think it one of those features that will fade.

Camera Control looks/ed good on paper. I was the lone reason I was interested in upgrading from 15 Pro to 16 Pro (I'm on iUP). But in actual practice, I've found it more troublesome than helpful. I've been consciously working to break my now-engrained habit of activating Camera from the lock screen. After several months, it has yet to take hold. While I shoot a LOT of photos and videos with my 16 Pro, I do not shoot with both hands on the device - where Camera Control might make more sense. Instead, the device is wedged between my index and pinky fingers while my middle and ring fingers offer support on the back of the device. This leaves my thumb to do most of the on-screen adjustments, shutter activation, etc. - with occasional left index finger support - making Camera Control virtually useless. Additionally, I've found the 1/2 touch, full-touch button sensitivity far too finicky - even with Settings configured in multiple ways. The final nail in the coffin for me was how constantly I was launching Camer to try and grab a quick shot, only to find my settings were stuck in whatever config they were in from my last session, constantly yielding unwanted under-/overexposed photos. I eventually realized I could adjust Camera settings to ensure everything zeroed between sessions. This helped. But at the heart of that issue was how frequently I was accidentally jacking up my settings via Camera Control. While I appreciate the effort, at this point, I have all but given up on Camera Control. YMMV, of course.
 
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I'd be surprised if Camera Control was gone that soon. Apple tends to stick with - even unpopular scenarios - a cycle or three longer than might be expected/warranted. Almost out of spite. But I do think it one of those features that will fade.

Camera Control looks/ed good on paper. I was the lone reason I was interested in upgrading from 15 Pro to 16 Pro (I'm on iUP). But in actual practice, I've found it more troublesome than helpful. I've been consciously working to break my now-engrained habit of activating Camera from the lock screen. After several months, it has yet to take hold. While I shoot a LOT of photos and videos with my 16 Pro, I do not shoot with both hands on the device - where Camera Control might make more sense. Instead, the device is wedged between my index and pinky fingers while my middle and ring fingers offer support on the back of the device. This leaves my thumb to do most of the on-screen adjustments, shutter activation, etc. - with occasional left index finger support - making Camera Control virtually useless. Additionally, I've found the 1/2 touch, full-touch button sensitivity far too finicky - even with Settings configured in multiple ways. The final nail in the coffin for me was how constantly I was launching Camer to try and grab a quick shot, only to find my settings were stuck in whatever config they were in from my last session, constantly yielding unwanted under-/overexposed photos. I eventually realized I could adjust Camera settings to ensure everything zeroed between sessions. This helped. But at the heart of that issue was how frequently I was accidentally jacking up my settings via Camera Control. While I appreciate the effort, at this point, I have all but given up on Camera Control. YMMV, of course.
I don’t know if the Air, being so thin, will have the space for the camera button. But I think the 17 Pro will have it.
 
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He’s been dead for over 14 years, I’m so sick of people bringing him up as though they have any idea what he’d do. None of us can possibly know what he’d think, let the man stay dead.
chevy-chase.gif
 
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Absolutely hate this phone.

The touch issues my screen has developed have just gotten worse and worse over time.

I feel like I’m pressing the screen instead of touching it to get simple commands. Today I couldn’t even launch the calculator from the control center. I’m just sitting over here like stabbing the screen with my finger.

I’m so disappointed in my device. And yes. I have no screen protector. I 100% hate this phone.

To think I gave up my 14PM for this crap. Just don’t. Don’t do it people. There is something wrong with a batch of these or the way they were made.. stay away from this model. This phone is awful.
Sounds like you got a defective phone, mine screen is very responsive, no issues at all and I do use a screen protector
 
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