Here’s What iPhone 16 Pro Camera Button Is Good For (And It’s Not Taking Pictures)

Keep in mind when the entire thing about an iPhone was its lack of bodily buttons? The unique iPhone had one dwelling button on the entrance and three on the aspect: an influence button, a quantity button, and a hoop/silent change. Apple has gone one higher ever since 2017, when the corporate launched the iPhone X with out a dwelling button.

However with the brand new iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max, Apple has gone all in on aspect buttons.

There are two on the correct aspect: an influence button and the brand new digicam management button. And there are three on the left aspect: the motion button that replaces the normal mute change, and barely separated quantity up and down buttons.

Whereas the brand new digicam management button seems superb within the Apple advertisements for opening the digicam app, adjusting zoom and different settings and taking footage, it has a major draw back that I’ve found within the three days I’ve owned an iPhone 16 Professional Max.

To not put too high-quality a degree on it, I’m all the time opening the digicam app by mistake.

There are such a lot of buttons on the iPhone 16 Professional fashions that it’s getting difficult to select up your cellphone with out urgent a number of of them. The motion button is small and exhausting to press unintentionally. Most occasions, the amount buttons are low danger if you happen to unintentionally press them. You’ll most likely simply improve or lower your quantity by a notch or two, and except you’re AirPlaying to an exterior speaker and maintain it so lengthy you blast everybody’s ears, it’s no large deal.

However the digicam management button is massive. It’s additionally low on the cellphone’s aspect, close to the place I normally decide up my telephones. It’s simple to press, and in case your iPhone is on already, increase, you’re within the digicam app. Press it once more, and also you’ve taken an image of your desk, your toes, the bottom, or no matter object your cellphone occurred to be pointing at.

In case your iPhone is sleeping, a single press received’t open the digicam app, however a second—maybe as you regulate your grip—will. I’ve in some way managed that feat as effectively.

It’s doable that the true offender is simply the case I obtained.

I purchased Apple’s $69 iPhone 16 Professional Max Clear Case with MagSafe, and it’s actually the more serious case I’ve ever had on an iPhone. It’s clear so you may see your cellphone’s coloration, which is nice, however it’s slick, easy plastic that’s simply barely simpler to grip than a moist ice dice.

Conspiracy theorists could be tempted to suppose this the case Apple desires you to purchase since you’re virtually assured to drop your cellphone a number of occasions, most likely ultimately leading to harm to each it and the case. I’m 65% certain that having this case on is extra harmful than going nude, the best way Steve Jobs meant everybody to make use of their telephones, and which I final did within the iPhone 5 period.

I’m making an attempt to resolve the issue with a twin answer.

First, I’ve ordered a brand new case from Amazon (this one is about $20, virtually $50 cheaper than Apple’s case). And second, I’ve ordered a digicam ring grip: the sort you may stick a finger by means of to carry your cellphone rather more securely. It really works with MagSafe to simply magnetically click on on to your iPhone—no glue required, which means no stick residue if you happen to tire of it—rotates and in addition doubles as a cellphone stand for media enjoyment.

Time will inform if this solves the issue. And I’ll replace this submit once I’ve had an opportunity to attempt the brand new case and the ring holder.

All this mentioned, having a digicam management button on the iPhone makes a ton of sense. And I’m certain I’ll discover it very helpful certainly, once I really need to take footage. Particularly if I can keep away from the false positives of unintentionally opening the digicam app 5 occasions a day.

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