The highly anticipated iPhone 16 “Camera Control” feature was officially unveiled today, showcasing a host of new capabilities. ECNETNews had the opportunity to experience this feature live at the launch event.
Excitingly, the Camera Control function will be available across all iPhone 16 models, breaking Apple’s trend of limiting innovative features to the Pro versions. This article provides an in-depth look at how the Camera Control works on the base-level iPhone 16.
iPhone 16: In-Depth Look at Camera Control
The innovative Camera Control is positioned on the lower edge of the right side of the iPhone 16.
Here’s how it operates:
To start, a hard press on the Camera Control button opens the Camera app instantly.
Press once to take a photo, but capturing a video requires a press and hold action. One notable limitation is that releasing the Control Button stops the recording, which may leave users wishing for an option to continue recording after releasing it. Perhaps this feature will be introduced with future iPhone models.
Users can also explore various options by lightly double-tapping the Camera Control button:
- Styles
- Tone
- Cameras (access to ultrawide and other lenses)
- Zoom
- Depth
- Exposure
For example, when adjusting Styles, you can scroll through filters like Standard and Vibrant simply by moving your finger along the Camera Control button. The interface is designed to be intuitive, and new users can master it quickly—often in under three minutes. The ease of access to various features with minimal gestures is particularly impressive.
The Camera Control button also serves a dual purpose as a “Visual Intelligence” tool, a new feature set to debut as part of iOS 18. This functionality allows users to identify information about objects simply by pointing the camera at them. For instance, pointing at a restaurant will reveal its operating hours, while pointing at a dog can provide insights into its breed. This feature aims to offer a unique, built-in alternative to other smart image recognition tools.
While an exact release date for the Visual Intelligence feature is still pending, it is scheduled for launch later this year.
