Apple’s latest attempt to slightly differentiate the iPhone 16 series is a fake button called Camera Control. But unlike last year’s new button, this one isn’t actually a physical button to press, but instead uses a combination of sensors and haptic feedback to simulate the sensation of movement. And during my brief hands-on with it shortly after Apple’s iPhone 16 launch event, I have to say that I actually thought it was a real button.
Editor’s note: After some research, we discovered that at least some of the camera controls are actual buttons that you can press down. Pressing all the way down feels like real movement, while a half-press is simulated by the iPhone 16’s haptic feedback. It does a very good job of simulating a two-stage button.
I had a quick look at the iPhone 16 Pro here at Apple Park, taking a closer look at the new camera controls and corresponding interface. When I first picked up the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I thought it looked slimmer and thinner than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was nice. My fingers were then drawn to the new “button,” which has grooves around it that help it be easily identifiable by touch.
Pressing the camera control from the home screen opened the camera app right away. The Apple rep who works on these phones encouraged me to press the camera control with varying degrees of intensity; a lighter press changes a dial that pops up on the screen next to the button. Dragging my finger across this surface moved the digital knob along with it, though the direction of movement felt a bit counterintuitive at first. However, I’m one of those gamers who needs to invert the direction of the controller when looking around or moving through the environment, so this might just be me.
There’s no way to change the direction of the camera controls while swiping, but you can tweak the settings to adjust pressure sensitivity. When the Apple rep instructed me to press harder on the controls, I was surprised to feel what felt like real buttons moving under my fingertips. I double-checked with the Apple rep that these weren’t actually moving mechanical buttons, and received a reassuring nod. Brian Tong, reviewing next to me, agreed, saying the camera controls felt very similar to real buttons.
Cherlynn Low of Engadget
Not only was I surprised by the physical feel of the iPhone 16 Pro, but I also took note of the changes to the interface. An initial light press on the camera control revealed options to choose Exposure, Zoom, Camera, Style, and Tone. Pressing harder on each locked those modes and revealed another dial with more markings, while swiping on the sensor moved a wheel. In camera mode, I was able to quickly cycle through the ultra-wide, main, and zoom options, similar to how the viewfinder works today. If you prefer to switch between cameras using the existing interface, you can still do so.
Once you’ve selected a Style option, you can swipe between the new Photo Styles that Apple introduced this year. For each one, you can tap an icon in the top right of the app to edit it in a new touchpad-like interface. Drag your finger around the rectangle at the bottom to adjust the color temperature and hue settings. You can change the Photo Style even after you’ve taken the photo, so you don’t have to worry too much about not liking the look.
Cherlynn Low of Engadget
I also tried holding the iPhone 16 Pro Max in portrait mode to take a selfie. At first, my thumb was too high on the edge of the device, and pressing down did nothing. I moved the phone slightly in my hand, and it felt a bit unstable. Then I found the camera controls and quickly took the photo. I’m not sure where I’m at at this point, but I have a feeling time will tell.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s camera improvements also include new video editing features, though we haven’t yet gotten around to recording 4K120 footage. We took a peek at the updated video editing interface, and there’s an “Audio Mix” tab on the side that lets you isolate the voices of people on camera and make them sound like they were recorded in a studio. It’s very cinematic. We’re not sure we believe you can shoot an IMAX-worthy movie on an iPhone, but the idea that you can is certainly intriguing.
iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max displays
One reason the iPhone 16 Pro feels slightly slimmer than its predecessor is likely due to its display: it now has a 6.9-inch screen compared to the previous model’s 6.7-inch screen. But Apple managed to keep the phone the same size as before, and to do so, it made the bezels even thinner. It’s something you won’t notice unless you put the two devices side-by-side and scrutinize the borders closely, but it’s a small difference that gives this year’s Pro Max a new feel.
Whether it makes a meaningful difference to phone use or reading a lot of content at once will be something we’ll have to wait until we can scroll through Reddit on the couch for hours to decide. We’ll also need some more time to see if Apple Intelligence and the new A18 Pro chip improve the experience and battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro. We’re super excited about the Voice Memos app update and will be singing out loud to the iPhone 16 Pro whenever we get the chance. If you want the most comprehensive review from an aspiring singer, come back soon and be sure to check out our full impressions. If not, we’ve warned you.
Update, Sept. 9, 2024 at 8:04 PM ET: This story has been updated to clarify that the camera controls have actual buttons, with the half-steps simulated through haptic feedback.
Catch up on all the latest news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!
