The new Photo button on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro isn’t winning everyone over! However, there’s a simple trick to disable it if it really bothers you.
Introducing the Touch-Sensitive Button
This year, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are equipped with a new Photo button. It’s entirely touch-sensitive, shielded by sapphire, and allows various camera control actions via Camera Control
. Apple describes this as a result of thoughtful hardware and software integration, aimed at making the camera system more professional and versatile. It features a touch switch, a high-precision force sensor (enabling a light press gesture), and a capacitive sensor (enabling touch interactions). Its durability remains to be seen in practical use.
How to Disable It?
However, in practice, the button has been met with skepticism by many users, including our editorial team! It’s not very user-friendly: it has an unpredictable response to pressure (sensitivity is not optimal), too many possible combinations, and requires too much thought to remember the correct gesture, slowing down photo taking. Its placement also interferes with tripod mounts, stabilizers, or car mounts.
But there’s a way to turn it off, simply by going through the accessibility settings. To do this, navigate to Settings > Accessibility and simply uncheck the button!
What Functions Does It Serve?
The Camera Control
feature can recognize and respond to several gestures and presses, which users will need to learn how to use!
• A single click within the Camera app: takes a photo,
• Long press: opens the Camera app and starts video recording,
• A single light press: locks focus and exposure on a subject (available later in Autumn 2024),
• Double light press: opens a mini camera preview menu, allowing users to select different commands like exposure or depth of field,
• Swiping the button’s surface: adjusts various settings such as zoom, exposure, or depth of field.
What’s Coming Next?
It appears that it will be updated later with a shutter to automatically lock focus and exposure on a subject with a light press. This will allow users to reframe the shot without losing focus. Note that Apple has opened this function to third-party applications.
Another upcoming feature: the integration of AI – which Apple describes as visual intelligence
. Reportedly, users will be able to perform a long press in the app, which will allow access to certain information – such as the hours or ratings of a restaurant they are passing by -, add an event from a flyer to their calendar, or quickly identify a dog’s breed (isn’t that right, Craig!).
Camera Control will also serve as a gateway to third-party tools, such as a Google search to find out where they can buy an item, or even to engage with ChatGPT.
Learn More
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