The iPhones 16 and 16 Pro introduce an innovative camera control button that transforms the way you capture photos and videos, bringing the experience closer to using a traditional camera. This new button not only offers more intuitive control, but also integrates Apple’s advanced artificial intelligence features, providing a more fluid and powerful photography and filming experience.
When Apple makes an addition to the iPhone, it always causes a stir. However, the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro brought an unexpected surprise. It wasn’t the mere presence of a new button – a detail that had already been rumored for months – but the incredible range of functionalities offered by this physical device with a touch-sensitive surface.
Although the idea of triggering the shutter with a physical button is not new – you can already use the volume button to capture photos in the Camera app – the new Camera Control goes much further. Instead of being just an additional button, this feature is equipped with a capacitive surface that recognizes touches and swiping gestures, allowing for much more precise and versatile control when taking photos.
Camera Control is available for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. You’ll be able to order it from this Friday, with availability in stores scheduled for September 20th. This new button promises to take your photographic experience to a new level, integrating perfectly with the design and advanced features of the new models.
How the New Camera Control Button Works
The iPhone camera control button is not just a conventional physical button. It is designed to provide a more sophisticated and responsive experience, combining the functionality of a physical button with the innovation of tactile feedback. When pressed, the button offers a tactile sensation that simulates the response of a physical mechanism, similar to the feedback of MacBook trackpads, which, although they appear to have a clickable action, are actually solid pieces of glass.
This advanced technology allows the button on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro to provide a precise and satisfying response, making interaction with the camera even more intuitive and enjoyable. The tactile feedback not only improves the user experience, but also reinforces the feeling of total control over capturing your photos and videos.
How the Surface of the Camera Control Button Responds
The surface of the new camera control button is made of a soft capacitive material that responds precisely to the movement of your finger. (The MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar technology is still alive and well!)
When you lightly press the button – an action that requires a gentle touch, but not enough to trigger a physical switch – an overlay appears on the screen. The iOS 18 beta had already introduced a subtle animation of the user interface that indicated the location of a physical touch, and we now know that this was indicative of the new expanded control area associated with the Camera Control button.
This technology allows for a more fluid and intuitive interaction, extending the capabilities of the button and integrating seamlessly into the user experience on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.
How to Open the Camera App with the New Control Button
With the arrival of iOS 18, one of the new features is the possibility of replacing the standard Camera icon on the lock screen with another shortcut of your choice. Although I personally have never used this shortcut, preferring to swipe from the right edge to access the app, the new functionality of the camera control button offers an even more convenient alternative.
Now, pressing the camera control button will quickly open the integrated Camera app. This new option is especially efficient as the button is strategically positioned close to where your thumb or finger rests when holding the iPhone, providing instant and easy access to the app.
Capture Photos and Videos with Comfort and Precision
Ergonomics in photography is often underestimated, but it can be crucial for capturing images with comfort and ease, avoiding uncomfortable contortions to reach the shutter button on the screen.
With the new Camera Control button, you can take a photo simply by pressing the button. To start recording a video, simply press and hold the button.
Also, it would be great if there was an option in the settings to change the press and hold function, allowing you to capture bursts of images instead of videos. Currently, you can configure this function by pressing the volume up button to take photos in bursts, but this requires manual activation in Settings > Camera > Use volume up for burst.
Enhancing Image Capture with Camera Control
A light touch on the Camera Control button temporarily hides most of the interface elements, giving you a cleaner, more focused view of your subject.
In a future software update, you’ll be able to lock focus by pressing and holding the button, similar to half-pressing the shutter on traditional cameras. Until then, you can simply touch and hold the screen at the desired point to fix the focus and exposure, even if you adjust the composition of the photo.
What’s more, Camera Control offers a great advantage by allowing you to zoom in and switch between cameras without having to move your fingers across the screen. To adjust the zoom, lightly press the button to display a slider and drag it to set the desired focal length.
Quickly Navigate between Cameras with the New Control
A light double tap on the camera control button displays a sliding overlay with additional camera options.
The Cameras option – identified by a shutter-like icon – lets you quickly switch between the iPhone’s different cameras. This makes it easy to select focal lengths, such as switching to the Ultra Wide camera (0.5x zoom) or the Telephoto camera (5x zoom), without having to navigate through complicated menus.
Quickly adjust exposure and depth
Also included in the overlay that appears when you lightly double-press the Camera Control button will be options for Exposure Compensation and Depth. The latter is the iPhone’s way of changing the aperture (it even uses an ƒ icon to indicate f-stops), but as all iPhone cameras include fixed apertures, the control adjusts the simulated depth in Portrait mode; if the camera detects a subject in the scene, it automatically saves the depth information.
Easily Select and Adjust Photo Styles
Apple has improved the Photo Styles feature on the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, replacing the standard filters with more customizable and adjustable options. You can now access and select these styles directly from the Camera Control button.
To choose a photo style, lightly press the control button twice to open the capture overlay. Then drag to select the Photo Styles option. Slide your finger to view the styles in real time and choose the one that best suits your photo.
Easily Capture Videos Using Camera Control
The Camera Control button also offers advanced functionalities for recording videos. During the Apple event, it was demonstrated that it is possible to switch between different resolutions and frame rates, such as 4K at 120 FPS, directly via the control.
In addition, Apple showed how Camera Control can be integrated with third-party photo and video apps. One notable example is Lux Software’s Kino video application, which uses the Grid Composer feature to switch between different types of visible guides, optimizing the composition of your video.
Camera Control Non-Photographic Features
Although the Camera Control button is primarily intended for photographic features, including those offered by third-party developers in their capture apps, Apple is also introducing an innovation called Visual Intelligence.
With your iPhone locked, you can press and hold the Camera Control button to access the camera immediately. When you take a photo in this mode, Apple’s Visual Intelligence analyzes what is being captured. For example, when photographing a restaurant, the system can provide additional information about the place, such as opening hours. Similarly, when capturing an image of a dog, the technology can identify the animal’s breed.
This functionality not only enhances the way you interact with the world around you, but also integrates Apple’s powerful intelligence directly into your photographic and video experience.
The New iPhone 16 Camera Control: Availability and Pre-Orders
The new Camera Control will be available with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro from September 20th. However, you can already secure your device by pre-ordering from 5am on September 13th.
To explore all the news and details about iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, be sure to check out our full coverage of the event.