iPhone 18: Why Apple Might Simplify, Not Remove, the iPhone 16's Camera Control Button

iPhone 18: Why Apple Might Simplify, Not Remove, the iPhone 16's Camera Control Button

The Camera Control Button: A Costly Design?

The iPhone 16's Camera Control button utilizes a dual-sensor system: a capacitive sensor detecting touch gestures and a pressure sensor differentiating taps, presses, and swipes. This sophisticated system is housed under a sapphire crystal layer. While offering quick camera access and in-viewfinder adjustments, Instant Digital suggests Apple finds this design too expensive to produce, especially considering its relatively limited utilization by users.

A Cost-Effective Redesign

The Camera Control button's inclusion across the entire iPhone 16 lineup—an unusual move for Apple, which typically introduces premium features on its higher-priced Pro models—contributed to increased production costs. The use of sapphire crystal further amplified these expenses. To address this, Apple is reportedly testing a revised version that omits the capacitive layer, relying solely on pressure sensitivity, similar to some Android smartphones. This simplification would significantly reduce costs while maintaining sufficient gesture precision.

Evolution, Not Elimination

Contrary to some reports predicting the button's complete removal, Instant Digital clarifies that Apple intends to retain the Camera Control functionality. The company is merely seeking a more cost-effective and streamlined implementation. Users who appreciate this feature can expect an optimized version as early as the iPhone 18 in 2026.

A Gradual Transition

The iPhone 18's Camera Control button is likely to represent a gradual evolution rather than a radical departure. This approach reflects Apple's strategy of refining and optimizing features over time, rather than abruptly discarding them. While the Camera Control button might undergo a transformation, its core functionality is expected to remain.

Looking Ahead to the iPhone 17

While the future of the Camera Control button is being refined, another, more visually apparent change is anticipated for the iPhone 17 lineup, expected to be unveiled at the September keynote.