Why Apple added yet another button to the iPhone 16

Apple has always been a company of contradictions, particularly when it comes to its design philosophy around buttons and ports. One moment, the company is stripping its devices of every perceived excess, embracing a “less is more” approach to hardware. The next, it’s introducing new buttons that challenge that very philosophy. The latest example of this shift is the iPhone 16, which was unveiled at Apple’s “Glowtime” event earlier this week—complete with a brand-new feature: the Camera Control button.

This addition arrives hot on the heels of last year’s Action Button, which debuted on the iPhone 15, following its initial appearance on the Apple Watch Ultra. While Apple’s minimalist design mantra has seen it eliminate everything from headphone jacks to the home button over the years, the company’s recent button renaissance is a fascinating twist.

Back to the Future: The Return of the Camera Button

The Camera Control button feels like a nod to the early days of smartphones, when dedicated camera buttons were more common. Over time, these buttons fell out of favor, replaced by sleek touchscreens and gesture-based controls. For some users, the reintroduction of a physical camera button may feel like a step back in time—but Apple’s decision is anything but retrograde. Instead, it marks a forward-thinking strategy, designed to enhance the iPhone’s camera functionality in ways that go beyond simply snapping a photo.

Apple’s hardware decisions have always followed a cycle of ebb and flow. Ports and buttons disappear, only to re-emerge in different forms or with new purposes. The Camera Control button is no different. While it might feel like a callback to earlier designs, it’s actually paving the way for something much more sophisticated.

A Button Built for Intelligence

It’s not hard to imagine that Apple wouldn’t have added this button without the impending arrival of Apple Visual Intelligence. While the camera has always been central to the iPhone’s appeal, this new button is designed to unlock features that go beyond mere photography. As Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering (and part-time parkour enthusiast), explained during the event, “Visual Intelligence is enabled by Camera Control.”

This new AI-driven technology will allow users to interact with the world in ways that resemble Google Lens but aim to take it further, giving users a more immersive and intuitive way to engage with their surroundings. However, much like other features of Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence won’t be available at launch. It’s expected to roll out later this year, leaving the Camera Control button to stand on its own as a dedicated photography tool in the meantime.

A More Dynamic Camera Experience

Even without Visual Intelligence, the Camera Control button offers significant improvements for photography enthusiasts. Unlike the traditional one-touch camera buttons of the past, this capacitive button responds to varying levels of pressure, allowing for more nuanced control within the camera app itself. With just a press, you can open the camera app, switch modes, adjust settings, and snap photos—all without needing to touch the screen.

This feature becomes even more intriguing when compared to the Action Button from the iPhone 15. The Action Button could be programmed to open the camera, but its functionality was far more limited than what Camera Control can offer. The new button is designed with photography in mind, offering greater versatility and control for users who want to get the perfect shot.

In a hands-on demo after the keynote, Apple offered attendees a glimpse of how the Camera Control button works. I found myself fumbling with my own phone during the demonstration, to which an Apple rep gently suggested that my life could be made easier with the new button. Fair point.

Getting the hang of Camera Control takes some practice—especially when it comes to applying just the right amount of pressure to toggle between functions. But once you get the feel for it, the button proves to be a powerful tool that goes beyond simple point-and-shoot photography.

Looking Ahead: Will Camera Control Unlock More?

While the true potential of the Camera Control button may not be realized until Visual Intelligence officially launches, it’s clear that Apple has big plans for this tiny piece of hardware. Whether it will ultimately be viewed as a camera-centric feature or a Visual Intelligence-first tool depends largely on the success of the latter—and on Apple’s ability to differentiate its offering from competitors like Google Lens.

For now, iPhone 16 users will have to settle for enhanced camera functionality. But as always with Apple, there’s likely more under the hood than meets the eye. The Camera Control button may be just the beginning of a broader shift in how we interact with our smartphones’ cameras—and possibly the world around us.

The iPhone 16, complete with its new Camera Control button, will be available later this month. Whether you’re excited about the improved camera functionality or waiting eagerly for the debut of Visual Intelligence, one thing is clear: Apple is betting big on buttons again.