The upcoming iPhone 16 series is expected to arrive with a brand-new Capture Button, which is poised to be one of the key selling points of the new iPhones, along with Apple Intelligence support. While Apple didn’t mention anything about the Capture Button at WWDC 2024, there is ample evidence that this new button will be completely different from the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button and will have a unique functionality to please photography enthusiasts. That said, it also means giving up on our long-running habit of using the volume buttons to click pictures. Will it be an easy transition? Will Capture Button be a useful addition or a gimmick? Let’s find out!
iPhone 16 Capture Button: How Will It Work
The Capture Button will work with native and third-party camera apps and facilitate functionalities like adjusting zoom and focus levels. The new button will be located in the lower-right corner. When you hold your iPhone in landscape mode, your index finger will naturally sit on top of the new Capture button. Also, the button will be capacitive, so you have to use your finger to activate it. Thankfully, this will cut down the chances of any accidental presses when the iPhone is in your pocket.
Unlike the Action Button, the new Capture Button will respond to the pressure applied by the user. Several reports suggest that pressing that Capture Button once will open the Camera app, sliding the finger on it will help you zoom in/out, touching it lightly will trigger autofocus, double tap will take you to Video mode, and you have to press harder to click a picture. Other functionalities may include adjusting the background blur while taking Portraits, cycling through filters, or adjusting exposure up/down. I feel this will give users greater control over their cameras so they can capture picture-perfect moments with utmost convenience.
Will Capture Button on iPhone 16 Be a Useful Addition?
I think it will be a welcome addition for individual creators who shoot horizontal videos for their social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. That said, it will also change the way how we click pictures on our iPhones. For a long time, people have been using volume buttons to capture photos. So, we have to change our habits with the new Capture Button. Honestly speaking, Apple users have been the laziest in adapting to new changes. Well, you can’t blame us, Apple has made us that way. Just like Apple, we iPhone fans are also unapologetically slow with making transitions.
Last year, Apple replaced the Mute switch and introduced the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max. The new button can perform a wide range of tasks like launching the camera app, accessing accessibility options, running a custom shortcut, and more. Users can customize the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button or even make it more useful by assigning multiple features. However, I haven’t seen people doing as much with their Action Button as Apple expected. The major factor responsible for this is the fact that the Action Button is tied to a single action, and can be triggered only with a long-press.
I feel the Capture Button will prove to be a useful addition if Apple really puts some muscle behind it. The button should actually have a purpose, and shouldn’t be thrown just for the sake of an addition. It shouldn’t be an unnecessary 8th way of accessing the Camera on an iPhone. I hope the Capture Button offers something for everyone. Rather than locking a user into a specific feature or function, Apple should offer some level of customization.
Also, the tech giant should learn from its Action Button’s mistakes, and shouldn’t limit the Capture Button to a single function. If the rumors and expectations around the Capture Button functionality turn out to be true, the new capacitive button would be a versatile addition compared to the limited approach of the Action Button. It will be great if the Capture button really supports double taps, long presses, and more.
Imagine how easy it would be to take rain-soaked pictures using the Capture Button. I could quickly adjust my camera settings and frame the best moments with the Capture button, without aggressively swiping my wet finger on the screen. You know how annoying it is.
I think if Apple strikes a perfect balance between what a Capture Button should and shouldn’t do, the additional button can actually help drive iPhone 16 sales. After all, people do consider the camera hardware and camera features when buying a new phone. Since iPhones are a top choice amongst mobile photography fans, it makes all the sense to introduce a dedicated button with camera features. If the Capture button makes it easy for a user to take photos, even if it means giving up on the old habit, the iPhone 16 might stand out in the best camera phone race.
Which iPhones Will Have the New Capture Button?
Contrary to the Action Button that’s only found on iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max, the Capture Button will be available on all the models of the iPhone 16 series. That means, even the entry-level iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will arrive with a Capture Button. It will be present on both devices with physical SIM card slots and eSIM-only units.
That said, Apple has a habit of introducing new features on the Pro-models first and then adding it to the vanilla models next year. We already saw that with Dynamic Island and Action Button. I hope Apple doesn’t do this with the iPhone 16 series. But, who knows the giant might offer the Capture Button on all models, but restrict its functionality on the standard models? Apple loves giving shocks, after all!
