I want to be excited about the iPhone 16's new camera button, but can't (for now)

We’re still hours from Apple’s September event, but I’m already thinking about the good, the bad, and the ugly of what will possibly be the iPhone 16’s flagship feature. As previously reported, the upcoming iPhone series is expected to feature a dedicated camera button. Housed on the bottom right side of the phones, the hardware key will act as a shutter button when pressed, both for photos and videos.

Also: What to expect from Apple’s iPhone 16 ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, and how to watch the livestream

Pitching the feature to the masses will be rather straightforward; most people are already familiar with taking photos on a camera in some way, shape, or form. To a degree, Apple is taking a step backward here, going from software to hardware. But, as is often the case with Apple products, the beauty is in the details.

According to Bloomberg, the new camera button will be touch-capacitive, meaning it’ll behave differently depending on how you tap and swipe it. A short press on the key will prompt the iPhone to autofocus on what it thinks is the main subject, and a harder press will capture it. Similarly, swiping on the button’s surface will switch between photo and video modes or zoom in and out. These are the features that will be met with oohs and ahhs during the keynote.

But one very important detail is missing here: button placement. Hold your phone up in landscape mode, and imagine it had a camera button. Where would it be? Would it be closer to the corner edge of the device or closer to the middle? If you and Apple are drawing inspiration from DSLRs — or any camera, really — then the answer should be the former. It’s the least obtrusive way to snap a photo without blocking the phone display and viewfinder. 

What if the camera button was closer to the middle? Suddenly, you’ll have to stretch your index finger more, potentially covering a portion of the screen. This is just my educated guess, of course, but based on case renders I’ve seen for the iPhone 16 models, using the new camera button might be an ergonomic nightmare.

Also: 4 reasons I’m not upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro from my iPhone 14

There is some hope that things will work out, though. Pick up your phone again and pretend you’re taking a picture in portrait orientation. Perhaps a Cybertruck is driving by, and you want a quick flick, or you’re at a crowded concert and stretching your arm as high as possible. For most people, the new camera button placement will be exactly where your middle or ring finger is (if you’re using your left hand) or where your thumb is (if you’re using your right hand). It’s a much more seamless and natural fit.

All that’s to say, the iPhone 16’s new camera button will be very capable, but where it lives on the phone will make or break the feature. There are also now five different ways to use the iPhone camera: the lock screen shortcut, the home screen app, the Control Center widget, the Action button, and the dedicated camera button. That’s a lot of options for a phone that is notorious for keeping things simple and user-friendly — and a lot more reason to invest in a higher storage tier (or iCloud plan) this time around. In that sense, this is pure genius by Apple.