If you've read my previous thoughts on iPhones here on TechRadar and its sister site Tom's Guide, you'll know that I have pretty strong opinions on Apple smartphones.
Since switching from Android to iPhone at the end of 2021, I haven't returned to the platform created by Google, despite testing some of the best Android phones. The ease of iOS has captivated me; I love the titanium construction, I found the Ceramic Shield glass to be a bit of a game-changer, I enjoy the Action button, and the cameras rarely let me down on iPhones.
But for once, I'm undecided.
What has me thinking is the camera control 'button'. In a way, it's an interesting new feature that uses tactile sensation well. In other ways, it is superfluous and not fully featured.
I've been testing the iPhone 16 Pro Max for a couple of weeks now, and when it comes to capturing a photo, I try to use the camera control as much as possible. Since I'm 37 and a millennial, I still like to take photos with my phone in landscape orientation, so having a physical button where my finger naturally sits is nice for capturing a photo without messing up the frame by touching the screen or trying to press the Action button; Anyway, I have this assigned to activate the 'torch', which is surprisingly useful.
I also like to scroll through the zoom ranges by swiping on the camera control without needing to touch small icons. Exposure control is pretty good, although switching between the functions Camera Control can control still doesn't feel very intuitive to me, and my tapping often causes me to miss the precise layout of a scene.
So yes, Camera Control is interesting. But…
Did anyone really ask for it? It feels like a nice feature for Apple's mobile executives to have something new to talk about at the September Apple event. It's just a “nice to have” feature, but it's not a game-changer for phone photography.
It's not my rhythm
Maybe I'll get used to it with time, though. However, the biggest problem is the lack of artificial intelligence tools in the release of Camera Control. Apple actively promotes AI features for camera control that can be used to intelligently identify the things the cameras are pointed at and provide all kinds of information. That hasn't happened yet, with a post-launch release when Apple Intelligence arrives in full; There is a beta option, but I'm not willing to try it on my main phone.
I have yet to understand that. Sure, other phone makers have touted AI features coming after the launch of their phones, and they may be limited to certain regions to begin with, but at least they're launching with some of the promised AI suites. The iPhone 16 range launched without any Apple Intelligence features.
This is not what I expected from Apple, a company that is famous for not adopting new technology until it is refined and ready for prime time. So launching next-generation non-intelligent smartphones is baffling to me. But it's also the main reason I feel torn about camera control; If it had Google Lens-like capabilities at launch, built into a hardware form factor, I can see myself being much more positive about camera control.
Of course, Apple's use of such a camera button will no doubt cause other phone makers to follow suit. I just hope they don't skimp on features when their phones launch.
As for camera control here and now, I'll keep an open mind and continue using it; I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will be very useful once I get my prescribed dose of AI.