While early rumors indicated Apple would get rid of physical buttons entirely, the company instead added two new buttons to the iPhone in the past two years: the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and Camera Control button on the iPhone 16. As a photography enthusiast, I was naturally drawn to a two-step shutter button equivalent on my phone. But after picking up my new iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Camera Control button led me into an endless loop of frustration.
Content
- Using Camera Control for the First Time
- Usability Issues of the Camera Control Button
- A Solution Looking for a Problem
Using Camera Control for the First Time
Access Camera Control by pressing the lower button on the right side of the iPhone, and it launches the camera app. There’s also a touch-capacitive surface on top of the button that can be used for various functions.
For example, sliding your finger on the button can zoom in and out. You can also tap the button twice to switch functionality. There’s Zoom, Styles, Aperture for Portrait Mode, and EV adjustment, with Apple promising an update that will add the ability to lock focus onto a subject.
Usability Issues of the Camera Control Button
In theory, Camera Control sounds like a fantastic idea. It’s there to help you get better shots from your iPhone. In reality, it’s far from it, and it all begins with the position.
1. Neither here nor there
My first thought when I saw the Camera Control button during Apple’s keynote was: “It looks useful, but isn’t it too high up?”
The hypothesis was confirmed the moment I unboxed the phone. I envisioned using Camera Control primarily when clicking photos in the landscape orientation – like a traditional camera. But when holding the iPhone horizontally, the button is too high for my index finger to reach naturally.
I have to perform finger gymnastics and adjust my grip to press it. Even if I decide to do that, the awkward position means my hands are not stable enough while clicking the photo. That leads to blurry pictures.
I adjusted my grip to click photos in the vertical orientation, but to nobody’s surprise, the button still felt awkwardly placed. While it’s much more reachable, most of my photos turned out blurry, as pressing the button requires some force, and when you’re holding a phone as big as the 16 Pro Max, it’s bound to cause shakes.
As a consequence of this, I had to hold the phone with both hands to stabilize it. The base iPhone 16 and 16 Pro may not have this issue, as they’re smaller. But if you went big like me, you have to use two hands to use the Camera control button.
2. Accidental taps
Apart from being difficult to reach, an indirect consequence of Camera Control’s placement is accidental taps. Since the surface of the button is touch-sensitive, it registers touches even when I’m just holding the phone naturally when clicking pictures. This led to the Camera Control UI being triggered even when I didn’t want it to.
Notably, this issue only happens when using the phone without a case or with a case that has a pass-through button, like Apple’s silicone case. I also tried using a case that has a simple cutout for the button and didn’t face this issue. The primary issue with accidental taps is that when the Camera Control UI is triggered, the on-screen controls are automatically hidden.
If I want to switch to the 5X lens using the on-screen toggle, I need to wait for the Camera Control slider to disappear before doing so. I have ended up missing my shot several times.
3. Doesn’t fare well with cases
It would seem picking up cases with a cutout would be your best bet, but it’s not.
While a cutout surely prevents accidental taps, it introduces a whole new problem with reachability. You have to dig your finger in deeper to press the button, and that introduces more shaking and discomfort.
A good workaround would be to get a case that covers the button and to lower the touch sensitivity of Camera Control so that it’s harder to trigger. However, this would mean you have to tap harder to trigger it, and that would lead to shaky photos.
4. Buggy software
Once you get past all the hurdles and are ready to use Camera Control, if you’re using it in landscape mode when your screen is off, you need to follow an extra button push. You need to press it once to activate your screen if it’s off, then again to open the camera app. Pressing it again snaps a picture.
If you’re taking a picture in portrait, the screen will turn on, and you’ll only need to press the key once.
5. Still not running at full potential
Finally, what bothers me is that Camera Control’s capabilities are currently limited. During the iPhone 16 keynote, Apple demonstrated using the button for a Google Lens-like alternative powered by Apple Intelligence. However, that feature isn’t live yet and isn’t expected until later this year.
Moreover, I’m unable to map the button to launch a third-party camera app like BlackMagic Camera. It’s either the default camera, Instagram, Magnifier, or the QR code scanner. Apple also provides you with the option to disable the button, which currently seems like the best choice.
A Solution Looking for a Problem
I used to love the camera shutter button on my Sony Xperia Mini Pro back in the day, as it gave me the feeling of using a dedicated camera. That’s why I was excited about Camera Control. I expected more, since we’ve moved on to larger screens, better touch sensitivity, and robust on-screen controls on smartphones.
This brings me to the fact that Camera Control – while trying to add more functionality – seems redundant. Things like switching between lenses, zooming in/out, and even focusing seem a lot easier using the screen than Camera Control. In fact, I figured that precise zoom levels were easier to achieve using the screen, as you don’t really have to rely on random swipes.
It’s one of those rare instances where it feels like Apple has added a feature without much thought. It’s going to make you pull your hair out unless you head to Settings -> Camera -> Camera Control and set the functionality to None.
All images and screenshots by Sumukh Rao.
Sumukh Rao –
Contributor
Sumukh has a knack for simplifying tech for the masses and helping consumers pick the right gadgets with his in-depth insights and reviews. He decided to hide his engineering degree in the closet to pursue his passion for writing. Over the past 6 years, he has contributed with guides, reviews, and detailed opinions to notable publications like TechPP, XDA-Developers, and Guiding Tech.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
Sign up for all newsletters.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and European users agree to the data transfer policy. We will not share your data and you can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe