iPhone 16's new supercharged Camera Control button is some proper innovation

10 September 2024
The Camera Control key is used for more than just camera controls.

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  • A
  • AndyC
  • nI0
  • 17 Sep 2024

No 3.5mm jack no buy, 15 Sep 2024Fools, this useless so called "innovation" is jus... moreAs far as I am aware the camera on an Iphone has never had a physical button to control zoom or many other features. It is only on my 15 Pro Max that I have been able to use a button for shutter release so please tell me which physical buttons this new button replaces.

The only way I have found to use a physical button to release the shutter on previos iPhones is to use an aftermarket bluetooth controller.

    • N
    • No 3.5mm jack no buy
    • nU2
    • 15 Sep 2024

    Fools, this useless so called "innovation" is just the pretext to remove physical, pressable buttons. None of these fools realize this. First headphone jack, now buttons, next USB. Whenever they "innovate" something it's bad news for consumers.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • nw}
      • 14 Sep 2024

      This looks like yet another piece of useless and complicated over-engineering from Apple. The Sony camera button is simpler and better

        i have been 21 years read gsmarena since my 1st Nokia 6600 camera phone bought in 2003.Then 2nd phone was SonyEricson K800 in 2006 which already has camera button. ( mann, that was 18 years ago SONY invented this function )

        This is most shameful news in mobile history that apple called it innovation.

          • S
          • Shania
          • tZ4
          • 14 Sep 2024

          Dileepa, 11 Sep 2024Sony has introduced this camera button for smart phones mor... moreYes you are 1000% right. the legendary Sony Ericson .

            • Z
            • Zeratul
            • YUU
            • 14 Sep 2024

            SONY has camera button since 2 decades ago ( remembered the cybershot k800 series ) .

            apple is late .

              • W
              • Woohoo
              • ii7
              • 14 Sep 2024

              Minus the haptic feedback, my $250 Android (Lenovo Z2 Plus) from back in 2017 also had a multifunction "capacitive home button"!!

              I could tap, tap & hold, press, press & hold, double press.
              And all these actions were customisable to a certain degree within settings. Ofc it wasn't open to other apps/devs, but it was still cool nonetheless, since I could get rid of the on-screen navigation buttons & have more screen real estate on that compact 5" phone, I still miss it dearly!!🤩

                • S
                • Sparky8691
                • sXc
                • 13 Sep 2024

                I actually really like Apple's implementation of this. As a Samsung user having gone through all their Note and then Ultra devices, it has been disappointing to see them lacking in this area. Asus have had the touch shoulder buttons on the ROG phone, and Sony have the shutter button on their Xperia range.

                Samsung used to have the Bixby button, which could be remapped as a one-press camera launcher. Volume keys could then be used for zooming. Outside of camera use, that would then give you more buttons to quick launch other features. For example, I have a long-press of my S22U volume key remapped to turn on the torch because they no longer give you that dedicated function button.

                Tbh I think they removed the Bixby button because everyone hated Bixby then and I guess Samsung didn't want to be seen as forcing it on users. But the joke's on us as the sole power button still launches Bixby by default with a long press. In fact they have to give you instructions on how to turn off/restart your phone as the expected long press of the power button doesn't do it anymore!

                Apple are now giving you both the camera button and action button...and I thought Android was meant to be the platform for tweakers that want to customise their setup.

                Apple adding the ability to use this camera button as a 2 stage shutter is also cool, so taking photos feels more like a real camera. Having to keep tapping on different areas of the screen to refocus is a bit annoying. I wonder if the swipe to zoom will still work alongside the 2 stage shutter.

                  Vegetaholic, 12 Sep 2024This button is the gimmick and not doing anything new what ... moreThe capacitive touch aspect is something the competition doesn't do, but I agree that it doesn't add anything useful, and it actually makes these things less user friendly. Better to use the volume buttons for zooming, as other photography phones with shutter buttons do.

                    mrleft, 11 Sep 2024So did Apple. This button is different than just a shutter ... moreThis button is the gimmick and not doing anything new what captetition does, move on, ship away.

                      Lol, what a lies from Apple, don't worry pictures will not be stored to servers, yeah in same fashion like this year all your deleted pictures will not be stored for longer than 1 month suddenly appearing on your phones which were deleted 5 years ago, ships must trust the leader 🤣

                        iH8allFanboys, 11 Sep 2024GSMARENA this is NOT innovation! This is just Apples take o... moreEver remember Galaxy Zoom? Had a capture button. People here know very little about tech stuff

                          So weird watching Apple lounching all these new deals when android have it for ages. And I am a fan of apple products, but hate it's way of taking our money aways.

                            • A
                            • AngryLithuanian
                            • mE0
                            • 11 Sep 2024

                            "proper innovation"? Really? Wow, wipe your face after you're done with Apple's rear mate. A bunch of japanese engineers at Sony would like a chat with you /s.

                              Anonymous, 11 Sep 2024Samsung already has a capture button, its called the volume keysSo did Apple. This button is different than just a shutter button.

                                Almand, 11 Sep 2024I wonder which flagship models from 2023 and 2024 have this... moreXperia 1 VI, and all previous Xperia 1s and 5s if you want a smaller phone.

                                  Anonymous, 11 Sep 2024Them removing buttons? Meizu zero 2.0: Now this time it... moreCongrats on completely avoiding the point of my comment.

                                    Hugo, 11 Sep 2024Can't wait for samsung to copyLike apple copied the whole OS for this year.

                                      Sony has had a camera button with 2 stages of sensitivity, for years. And while GSMarena and the world is calling Apple "innovative", we have companies like Huawei releasing a friggin' three point foldable device, Tecno releasing collapsing cameras, Motorola making rollable phone concepts, etc.

                                      Apple and Innovation are like Oil and Water.

                                        YUKI93, 11 Sep 2024Jokes on you, I have friends who used to be Apple and Samsu... moreFriend of mine is on like his 4th Xperia and claims "last Samsung that caught my eye was the S7 Edge"

                                        very fair statement, I'm a Samsung Ultra series user but his 1IV is an amazing device.

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