Apple recently hosted its Glowtime event, where it introduced the latest line of iPhones. A major highlight this year is the new Camera Button. This isn’t just any ordinary button for snapping photos—it’s touch-sensitive and offers much more functionality. So, in this week’s MSP Explained, we have decided to delve deeper into Apple’s latest Camera Button. We’ll explore how it works and its various features. So, let’s get started!
iPhone 16’s New Camera Button
All the new iPhone 16 devices have got this new camera button. This includes the vanilla iPhone 16, the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The pre-order for all the devices has begun in India, and the shipments will begin on September 20. The iPhone 16 starts at Rs 79,900, while the Pro models start at Rs 1,19,900.
How Does the iPhone 16’s Camera Control Button Work?
The new Camera Control button on the iPhone is located on the right side, just below the power button, and has a sapphire crystal cover for durability. While it provides a more mirrorless or DSLR-like camera experience due to the button placement, it’s more than just a trigger. The iPhone 16’s Camera Control Button is a blend of physical and digital, offering a tactile experience while expanding the possibilities of what a camera button can do.
It depresses like a traditional button and uses haptic feedback, similar to the MacBook trackpads. This makes it feel like a mechanical switch like one you would find on traditional mirrorless or DSLRs, even though it’s not. The button’s surface is smooth and capacitive, sensing your fingertip’s motion. A light press triggers an on-screen overlay without actually pressing the button down.
What the Camera Button Can Do
The new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series introduces several innovative features designed to enhance the photography experience. Here’s a detailed overview of what the button can do:
Basic Functions
The iPhone’s new Camera Button app is designed for quick and easy access. Pressing the Camera Control button once opens the camera app immediately, so you don’t need to search for it on the home screen.
To take a photo, press the button again. If you want to record a video, press and hold the button. This straightforward approach makes switching between photos and videos easy.
Advanced Controls
The iPhone’s new Camera Button also includes advanced features that make it easier to adjust settings on the go. The button uses capacitive touch and pressure sensors, allowing for gesture-based controls. A light press shows an overlay where you can adjust zoom, exposure, and depth of field by simply swiping your finger.
A double light press quickly toggles between camera modes, like switching lenses or changing the depth of field. You can also slide your finger across the button to zoom in or out and adjust the exposure, giving you more control without needing to dive into the app’s settings. These features make the camera easier to use while shooting.
Visual Intelligence Integration
The Camera Control button also works with Apple’s new Visual Intelligence feature. This lets you point your camera at objects, such as concert posters or restaurant flyers, and get instant information, much like Google Lens. Future software updates will improve this feature by adding AI, making it even more useful in photography.
However, it’s important to know that this feature is not available at the moment and will be added later this year.
Third-Party App Support
Thankfully, the new Camera Button is not limited to Apple’s Camera app. The company allows developers to integrate this button into their apps, allowing for custom functionalities in apps like Snapchat.
Conclusion
So that sums up pretty much everything about the iPhone 16’s new camera button. It is ergonomically placed beneath the power button, making it easy to access when holding the phone in landscape orientation. This design mimics the feel of a traditional camera’s shutter button.
Overall, the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series makes using the camera easier. It gives quick access to camera functions, supports advanced gestures, and works with AI features, all while staying simple to use. We have yet to try the feature out to see how it performs in the real world, so, stay tuned to our review of the same.
