Apple Introduces Improved Camera Button and AI Features in iPhone 16

Apple’s iPhone 16 launch highlighted two standout features: Apple Intelligence and the new camera control button. However, the initial rollout faced criticism due to incomplete functionality and missing features that undercut the user experience.

The iOS 18.2 beta brings a long-awaited improvement to the camera control button. Users can now launch the camera even when their iPhone is off or in always-on mode. This functionality, which must be enabled in settings, eliminates the previous need to wake the phone before using the button. Strikingly, budget Android devices have offered similar camera access for years, often through shortcuts like double-tapping the volume button. The omission of such functionality in the iPhone 16’s dedicated button at launch puzzled many and highlighted a rare oversight in Apple’s user-centric design approach.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested in his newsletter that Apple might make this feature a default setting in future iOS versions, or at least include it as an option during the setup process for new devices. The public release of iOS 18.2 is expected in December.

Meanwhile, Apple Intelligence—the other flagship feature of the iPhone 16—remains in a phased rollout, with completion anticipated around April next year. This delay means early adopters have yet to experience the full capabilities Apple showcased during its product announcements.

This year has been challenging for Apple’s software ecosystem. Several major product lines, including the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro, encountered software-related issues. The frequency of these problems has raised concerns about Apple’s quality control and its impact on the brand’s premium reputation.

Apple’s ambitious explorations into areas like autonomous vehicles, robotic devices for the iPad, and smart home systems suggest an exciting future, but some question whether these efforts come at the expense of its core products’ reliability. Despite these challenges, Apple’s ongoing updates aim to refine the user experience and reestablish confidence in its flagship devices.