What is the iPhone 16 Camera Control Button?

One of the most intriguing new features on the new Apple iPhone 16 devices is the Camera Control button. This touch sensitive button is located on the right side of the phone, and it allows you to do all manner of camera app adjustments with a swipe or a tap. Some of the things you can do with the Camera Control button include: 

• Launching the camera
• Taking a photo
• Starting a video recording
• Adjusting zoom, exposure, or depth of field

The Camera Control button can also be used to take advantage of Visual Intelligence features (available next year) that allow you to identify things, look up ratings, or add events. Plus, the button is third-party friendly, so apps like Snapchat and platforms like ChatGPT will be adding their own functionality to the camera button as well. 

In this article, we’ll explain Apple’s new camera button in detail, from what's cool about it to what's more hype than help—at least so far. 

What is the iPhone 16 Camera Control Button?

Apple’s new Camera Control button, available on all new iPhone 16 models (including the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max), is a tactile, touch sensitive feature on the side of the device that allows you to take pictures, shoot videos, frame shots, and make picture adjustments on the fly. It also features haptic feedback, like vibrations, that let you know it’s working. The new design feature was unveiled during the recent Apple Event (branded “It’s Glowtime”). 

iPhone 16 Camera Control Button Commands

Here are some of the commands you can access with the camera button, and how to do them: 

• Initiate the camera: Click the Camera Control button
• Snap a photo: Press the Camera Control again
• Shoot video: Press and hold the Camera Control button
• Launch camera controls: Lightly touch the Camera Control button
• Frame the photo: Once you’re in the camera control menu, just swipe to adjust the zoom, exposure, and more

iPhone 16 Camera Control Button and AI

As mentioned, the Camera Control button promises AI features along with basic photo-taking shortcuts. Apple has branded these tools Visual Intelligence, and they will allow you to identify and learn about things around you, whether that’s getting information on a dog breed or looking up an event you see on a flyer. Visual Intelligence clearly has a lot in common with Google Lens, which injects similar functionality into Google Pixel cameras. 

Since these features haven’t been officially launched yet (Apple says they’re coming to the iPhone via iOS 18 next year), there’s some ambiguity around them. That said, Apple has teased the following Apple Intelligence features that can be accessed via the Camera Control button: 

• Look up reviews of things you see, including restaurants
• Identify things you see, whether that’s a bike, a car, a watch, or anything else
• Identify events you see, and instantly add them to your calendar
• Make AI-assisted adjustments to your photos on the fly

Camera Control: Our Impressions

We’ve spent a few weeks with the new Camera Control button since the release of iPhone 16, and we’ve got some thoughts on how useful it really is and whether it’s worth the upgrade at this point.

For the most part, Apple delivers on much of what it promised. 

Conceptually, there's a lot to like about the Camera Control button. What's cool about it is that it provides such easy access to so much functionality. You can do much more with it than simply press and shoot. 

For example, you can click the button once to open the camera app, lightly press and slide your finger across the button to control the zoom or adjust the background blur (bokeh) in your photos or videos, and then push it once more to capture the picture or record the video. That’s all without having to move your finger very much off the button at any given time. 

This feature feels fresh, even if you're coming from a newer model like the iPhone 15. It's the closest thing to capturing that classic shutter button vibe from traditional cameras—exactly what Apple aimed to do.

But not everything about the Camera Control button hits the mark.

The biggest issue is where the button is placed. Since it's near the bottom right corner of the phone, it can be challenging to reach the button when shooting in portrait orientation, let alone make precise adjustments. 

More often than not, we found ourselves going back to the touch screen to make quick changes instead of using the button. 

Generally, it feels more natural to use the Camera Control button when holding the phone in landscape orientation with two hands since your finger can easily reach and adjust it without much extra effort. 

For this reason, how much you enjoy using the Camera Control button might depend on whether you prefer taking photos and videos in landscape or portrait mode and whether you typically hold your phone with one or two hands. Also, depending if you're right or left-handed, that may affect how comfortable and intuitive it feels. 

There are some other quirks, too. For example, since the Camera Control button is placed right along an area you might use to grip your phone, you might press and open the Camera app when trying to check the time or read a notification. 

Fortunately, you can fix this by setting the button to activate with two presses instead of one by going to Settings > Camera > Camera Control > Double Click.

While the Camera Control button has its pros, we didn't end up using it as much as we thought. It's great if you prefer taking photos and video in landscape mode, but if you shoot mostly in portrait orientation for things like Instagram Stories or full-screen TikTok videos, you’ll be just fine without it. 

That said, some of the most intriguing uses for the Camera Control button may only be a short wait away. The Camera Control button appears to be the primary way you’ll be able to access Apple Intelligence’s Visual Intelligence features, which will allow you to use AI to get additional information about the objects in your photos. This should be released in an iOS update before the end of the year.

We'll be sure to update this article with additional thoughts as more Camera Control functionality becomes available.

The Bottom Line

While Apple has placed a lot of emphasis on the Camera Control button for the iPhone 16, the button’s placement can feel a bit awkward in certain orientations, and it just might be easier to use the touch screen to make the same adjustments to your photo and videos. 

However, with future updates bringing Visual Intelligence features, it has the potential to be more useful. For now, it’s definitely worth trying out—just expect a bit of trial and error as you get used to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the iPhone 16 have a camera button?

Yes, the iPhone 16 has a camera button located on the side of the device. This is a brand new design feature, and isn’t built into the iPhone 14, iPhone 15, or iPhone 15 Pro. 

Where is the iPhone camera control button?

The new iPhone 16 Camera Control button is located on the right side of the device. It allows you to access a number of camera shortcuts, including launching the camera, shooting video, and framing and adjusting your shots. 

What is camera control on iPhone 16?

The Camera Control button, available on the new iPhone 16 models and iPhone 16 Pro models (including the iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max), is a tactile, touch sensitive feature on the side of the device that allows you to take pictures, shoot videos, frame shots, and make picture adjustments on the fly. It features haptic feedback (like vibrations) that let you know it’s working.