While some may pooh-pooh the iPhone 16 lineup as a boring addition to Apple's smartphone catalog, many people are excited for one single feature: the Camera Control button. Here's what Apple designers have to say about it.

With iOS 18, users can replace the default camera app on the lock screen with a third-party app. Halide and Obscura — two popular camera apps designed as alternatives to Apple’s default camera app with manual controls and different image processing algorithms — have already taken advantage of that possibility and released updates with shortcuts

It’s always the same thing when a new iPhone comes out. Has Apple done enough to significantly move the dial forward or is this another largely iterative update? Now criticisms lodged at the iPhone are perfectly reasonable.

The camera control button is a new feature coming to the iPhone 16, as is the ability to shoot spatial photos and video. The indented button sits flush with the surface of the phone and looks similar to a side fingerprint reader but launches the camera. You can also use it to access Visual Intelligence features, powered by Apple Silicon.

Apple has overhauled the camera button on the iPhone 16, adding haptic feedback and touch sensitivity, giving users some cool tricks they can do with it.

All four iPhone 16 models feature a new Camera Control button for the Camera and Visual Intelligence. But what if it also supported Touch ID?

The Back Tap feature can open your camera and perform other useful tasks, and it works even if you use your iPhone with a case.

Apple launched the iPhone 16 series earlier this month with a dedicated Action button. This action button replaces the Ring/Silent button that has been a part of Apple's iPhone models since it launched in 2007.

Just buy a new phone? Here’s a tip for the first thing to do post-setup: replace the iPhone Lock Screen’s camera button with something else.