According to Apple, the two primary reasons for purchasing an iPhone 16 are Apple Intelligence and the newly introduced camera control button.
However, similar to some incomplete AI features, the camera control button was initially released with limited functionality, which now seems rather silly in retrospect.
With the iOS 18.2 beta, the camera control button can now activate the camera even when your iPhone is turned off or in always-on mode, a feature that can be toggled on in the settings.
Previously, users had to wake up their phones to utilize the camera control button. It remains unclear why this wasn’t included from the beginning.
Even budget Android phones I have used in the past offered options to quickly access the camera or take a photo while the screen was off, often achieved by double tapping the volume down button. It’s quite strange that a dedicated camera button didn’t have this functionality by default.
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg highlighted in his newsletter that Apple might establish this as the default setting following the public release of iOS 18.2 in December.
If that doesn’t happen, it could at least be offered as an option during the initial setup of a new iPhone 16. Additionally, Apple Intelligence, another reason to consider the iPhone 16, is being rolled out gradually, with estimates suggesting that the rollout will be completed around April of next year.
This staggered approach has resulted in those who purchased an iPhone 16 at launch not experiencing the full range of features that Apple showcased at its events. Throughout this year, Apple has faced a series of disappointing software updates, impacting nearly every major product, from the iPhone to the iPad to the Vision Pro.
This trend has taken a toll on Apple’s premium branding. While the company is experimenting with new initiatives—ranging from the canceled Apple car to an iPad robot and a smart home device—the question remains whether these efforts are worth the trade-off in quality control for its flagship products.
