The models of iPhone 16 previewed by Apple today all feature a new Camera Control button located on the right side dell’iPhone under the power button. The Camera Control button can be used for various functions while capturing images and videos.
Apple says the camera control button is designed to work in both landscape and portrait modes, and features a force sensor and a touch sensor to support various gestures.
- Single click: open the camera app (or a third-party app).
- Single click, Camera open – Take a photo.
- Click and hold: Open the Camera app and start a video recording.
- Light press: Opens controls like zoom. This button also locks focus and exposure (coming this fall) to frame shots without losing focus.
- Double-tap: Brings up the camera preview menu to choose different controls such as exposure or depth of field.
- Scroll: Scroll through available adjustment options and also change parameters such as zoom, exposure or depth of field when a control is selected.
The button is supported by advanced software, so you can switch between control functions without having to manually access the Camera app.
- Adjust the zoom
- Adjust the exposure
- Adjust the depth of field
- Scroll through different style options
Third-party developers will be able to leverage Camera Control in their apps to adjust settings, and it will even work in social media apps like Snapchat.
Later this year, Camera Control will be able to work with a new visual intelligence feature. Users will be able to open the Camera app and point it at an object to get information about that object with a click-and-hold gesture. Pointing it at a restaurant, for example, will show hours and ratings, while pointing it at a plant will identify the plant. Using Visual Control with something that has a date, like a flyer, will add the date to the Calendar app.
Camera Control will act as a gateway to third-party tools, such as when users want to search Google for an item to buy or use. ChatGPT to solve a problem.
There are settings that allow users to change the speed of the double press and the sensitivity of the button for a light press.
The Camera Control has a smooth textured sapphire crystal cover surrounded by stainless steel trim. It’s set into the iPhone bezel just a little, and the force sensor has haptic feedback that feels like the shutter on a DSLR camera.