Apple’s iPhone 16 camera button makes a sound

Sure, that might be kind of a bummer for some. However, tech reviewers and content creators who descended on Apple Park to be the first to test the iPhone 16 had something else that caught their eye: the iPhone 16’s new button dedicated to its camera app, which looks like a success.

“Coolest new iPhone 16 feature? Camera control button,” said YouTuber iJustine on X.

The camera control button allows iPhone owners to open the camera app with the click of a button and works similar to that of a DSLR camera. Users can slide their finger over it for camera controls, such as zoom or adjust focus, or press it to take a photo or video.

As more videos from inside Apple Park showed off the button’s capabilities, online excitement grew.

“The girls at the concert are going to lose their minds when they hear about this,” said user X.

With this new button, the iPhone 16 has a total of five buttons, including the action button, volume controls and the home button.

While it’s strictly for the camera at the moment, Apple’s visual intelligence teaser – where people were able to search for things by taking a photo – indicates that the camera control button will also be a way to access this feature once it becomes available.

In addition, Apple said that the camera control button will be functional in third-party apps that use the camera like Snapchat and Instagram. Techies are buzzing about it, though reviewer Marques Brownlee said he’s interested to see how useful it will be.

“I’m curious how many people will use this on a regular basis,” Brownlee said in his iPhone 16 first impression video. People can already zoom or resize photos on their phones using the screen, not the button.

Now that the iPhone 16 is available for pre-order, we’ll see if the hype surrounding the camera button continues once people get the new phone in their hands.