Testing the iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Control for a Month Reveals Major Issues
The iPhone’s design has seen various iterative changes over the years. While some of these updates bring meaningful improvements, others are more debatable. In 2023, the iPhone 15 Pro introduced features like the Action button and a titanium frame. However, 2024 brought what could be considered the most significant design update in years: the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 series. Apple highlighted this feature during its Glowtime event, emphasizing its utility for users looking for quick access to essential camera functions.
The Camera Control button allows users to launch the camera app instantly, but its overall impact is questionable. While it offers quick access to various camera settings, it doesn’t significantly enhance the photography experience for users who are already familiar with professional camera workflows. For example, zooming with the Camera Control button is slower than traditional pinch-to-zoom gestures. The button requires multiple swipes to reach the maximum zoom level, and timing tests show that it’s less efficient than manually zooming with fingers.
Other functions, like exposure adjustment and aperture control, are also accessible directly through the camera interface, which feels faster and more intuitive than using the Camera Control button. Additionally, Apple’s decision to integrate a “cameras” option within the button — essentially replicating the zoom toggles already available in the app — adds unnecessary complexity.
Switching between camera modes using the two-press action on the Camera Control button feels cumbersome, making the feature less user-friendly than intended. Apple’s goal of providing quick access to camera features is somewhat undermined by the convoluted process of switching between them. As a result, most users will likely stick to only one or two of these options.
The Camera Control button has been compared to the knobs on professional cameras that control shutter speed and aperture, but it doesn’t offer the same level of intuitive control. A more effective design would involve locking the button to a specific function, with users switching between options via the camera interface, perhaps using a scroll wheel.
In the end, while the Camera Control button was designed to give iPhone users more control, it falls short. It lacks customization options, which limits its potential. A more versatile approach, such as allowing users to configure the button for specific tasks like burst photography or GIF creation, would make it more useful. For now, the Camera Control button remains a feature that feels overhyped and underdelivers, and it’s not something Android manufacturers should rush to replicate.