Introducing Camera Control
Apple’s new Camera Control system is a perfect example of what happens when hardware and software work seamlessly together. It’s packed with smart features, including a tactile switch that gives you that satisfying click, and a force sensor that responds to a light touch. With a simple press, you can launch the camera, snap a photo, or start recording video in an instant—perfect for those fast-action moments that can’t wait.
The new camera preview makes framing your shots super easy, letting you adjust zoom, exposure, or depth of field with just a swipe of your finger. Plus, third-party apps like Snapchat are already lined up to integrate Camera Control, giving you even more ways to use it.
Later this year, Camera Control is set to get even smarter. Here’s what’s kind of freaky: imagaine walking past a restaurant, and with a simple click, pulling up its hours or reviews. Or maybe you spot a plant and want to know its genus — Camera Control can do that in a near instant. It’ll even help you add events from flyers to your calendar or quickly find where to buy something you’ve just seen. And if you need a little extra help, it can connect to third-party tools like Google or ChatGPT to give you wicked-fast answers on the spot.
While awesome as this sounds, I’m curious how accurate the information will be when it's released. Nonetheless, this form of advanced software and hardware intelligence was bound to be on the horizon at some point; I’m surprised it even took this long.
Action Button
The latest Action button on the iPhone 16 is a game-changer, bringing a feature that was once only on the Pro models to everyone. It's conveniently located where the mute switch used to be, but now, it's much more than a simple toggle. What’s cool about the Action button is how customizable it is. So whether you want to quickly jump into the camera, silence notifications, or launch your favorite app — this button is a concise shortcut to your most-used features, right at the tip of your thumb.
Photographic Styles
I’ll admit, I haven’t used this feature enough in the past — but that’s about to change. The latest generation of Photographic Styles on the iPhone 16 lets creators take their photos to the next level by adjusting colors, highlights, and shadows in real time. What’s even better is that these styles are designed with a deeper understanding of skin tones, giving you more control over how you appear in your shots. Unlike typical filters that blanket the whole image with one look, Photographic Styles allow for more precise edits by targeting specific colors in the scene. And with a broader range of styles, you have even more creative freedom to craft the perfect aesthetic. So, the flexibility here is impressive, whether you apply them during the live preview, after the photo is taken, or change your mind and reverse them later.