The Significance of a Dedicated iPhone Video Button

Both iPhone 16 models will get a new camera ‘capture button.’ It’ll be on the lower right side, right under your forefinger, when you flip the phone into landscape mode. It may be pressure and swipe-sensitive for even more control.

Both versions of the iPhone 16 will get yet another new button on their edges, this one a dedicated camera button. It’s more like a teeny-tiny trackpad for controlling the camera.

According to The Information, the next iPhone will have a new “capture button” on the lower right edge of the phone as you hold it in normal use, which falls under your right index finger if you hold the phone like a camera.

“I am a portrait photographer in Midland, TX, and love the idea of a camera control button! It is another button users will need to figure out, but it will provide so much more control in how we capture an image that I believe the added complexity is worth the trade-off. I currently struggle to even raise the exposure on my older iPhone camera with the clunky slide feature they offer,” portrait photographer Mistie Oliver told Lifewire via email. “Having manual controls will enable photographers to experiment with multiple settings to create unique creative effects in our photos in various lighting conditions or challenging environments.”

The capture button has been rumored before, but The Information’s Wayne Ma provided extra details. The button will be an actual moving, clicking button, just like the sleep/wake/power button above it, but it will also have a capacitive element, allowing it to detect swipes and sense pressure. This hybrid click/touch design is similar to the existing sleep/wake button on some iPad models, which puts a fingerprint reader into a physical button.

In the case of the capture button, you’ll be able to swipe to control things like camera zoom level, and the pressure sensor can be used to ‘half press’ the button to focus, just like with a regular camera’s shutter button.

The button will also launch the camera app if you press it while the iPhone is sleeping, making it super quick to slip it out of a pocket and snap a photo or video, just like the iPhone 15 Pro’s action button.

“The action button is in a terrible spot on the phone as you’d cover the lenses with your fingers or hand when using the button to take pictures,” photographer Kari Bjorn told Lifewire via email.

Plus, most folks with an iPhone 15 Pro set the action button to activate the camera, which means it’s a popular enough function to get its own button.

“While the Action Button has its uses, a specialized camera button suggests a more nuanced approach to photography. Manual controls are vital for photographers seeking precision and creative control over their shots. A dedicated button for the camera allows quick access to essential settings, enhancing the overall shooting experience,” professional travel photographer Kevin Mercier told Lifewire via email.

One odd factor here is that the capture button seems intended for shooting in landscape, like an actual camera, rather than in portrait, which has become the default for both photos and videos in our smartphone-first world. So why has Apple decided on this approach? It’s all for the Vision Pro.

The iPhone 15 Pro can capture 3D ‘spatial video’ to view on the Vision Pro. This is done in landscape orientation, so it makes sense for Apple to push this aspect. If you look at the 15 Pro vs the regular iPhone 15, you’ll see that only the 15 Pro has two cameras aligned horizontally—a requisite for capturing 3D.

“As far as the zoom controls go, I think that’s dicey. I teach phone photography classes, and nearly all iPhone users understand the pinch and spread method of zooming. That said, for accessibility, it could be a game changer,” event and portrait photographer Don Orkoskey told Lifewire via email.