Well , it happened . Apple just held its tardy big hardware event , and as expected , we have new iPhones and Apple Watches . This is a custom each September , and this class is no different . However , for the first time in my calling save about phones on the cyberspace , I attended the iPhone launch in person and choke hands - on with the fresh models much earlier than usual .
Trying to form fully - fledged , in - deepness impressions about novel phone is difficult when you ’re shoulder joint - to - articulatio humeri with hundreds of other mechanical press / medium people . However , even in the brief time I perplex to employ the newiPhone 16and iPhone 16 Pro devices , there ’s one matter that really stood out to me .
All of the new iPhone 16 models — include the iPhone 16 , 16 Plus , 16 professional , and 16 Pro Max — have a new hardware push button . It ’s called the Camera Control , and it ’s on the right edge of the frame below the big businessman / Siri button . Like otherAndroid phonesover the year , it allows you to snap a photo in the camera app like a consecrate shutter button . However , in the way that only Apple does , the Camera Control button isso muchmore than that .
A individual press of the Camera Control clitoris opens the camera app . Pressing it again snaps a pic , while hold it down records a telecasting . mere enough , right ? It is , but that ’s just the start .
A capacitive sensor underneath the Camera Control push button gauges how hard you ’re squeeze the button . A full press takes a pic , but a light press brings up a control port powerful below the push — and you may swipe across it to soar up in and out . A double press from there bring up additional dominance you may adjust with the release , include the deepness of champaign , vulnerability , Photographic Styles , and more . Apple plan to sum up a two - microscope stage shutter button pick later this year , along with “ visual tidings ” features that ’ll allow you to use the Camera Control push button to explore the cyberspace for things that your camera sees — not unlike Google Lens .
After try the Camera Control button for myself , I ’m 100 % sell . It ’s an incredibly slick interface , and it worked incredibly well in the multiple demos I had with it . There ’s also a Taptic Engine below the button that provides lovely haptic feedback when interacting with it . Paired with the Action button that ’s also now on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus ( and return to the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max ) , Apple ’s letting you doso muchwith button versus the touchscreen . I utterly have it away it , and I really think it ’s going to be difficult going back to myiPhone 15 Pro Maxand its Camera ascendency - less design .
Beyond the Camera Control button , the slimmer bezels on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are impressive — and suddenly make my iPhone 15 Pro Max face ancient by comparability . This twelvemonth ’s new silver screen size of it are an interesting change ( 6.3 inches for the 16 Pro and 6.9 inch for the 16 Pro Max ) . The iPhone 16 Pro did n’t feel immediately larger in my hired man liken to the 15 professional , though I ’ll need more time to amply work my thoughts here .
The young Desert Titanium color for the Pro models isfineand not nigh as awful - looking as early renders suggest it would be . The real color highlighting are with the understructure iPhone 16 models ; Ultramarine , Teal , and Pink are all stunning in soul . To my eye , they ’re easily some of the best iPhone coloring Apple has released in year .
you may preorder all of the raw iPhone 16 manikin now , and regular sales are set to begin on September 20 . We ’ll have alotmore to say about the young iPhones very before long , so detain tuned for plenty more to come .
