Apple is preparing to add a new button to all upcoming iPhone 16s. Previous speculation suggested its potential role as a dedicated camera button for both photos and videos, and now we know more about it.
While Apple has already replaced its “silent” switch with a new action button on its recent iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, the next iPhone 16 should also be entitled to a brand new button, this time dedicated to photography.
Indeed, in a new report on Bloomberg, the famous journalist Mark Gurman has just highlighted the arrival of a new button on all the next iPhone 16s. The latter would be exclusively designed for video recording.
What do we know about the iPhone 16 video button?
The capture button is expected to revolutionize the user experience by offering a dedicated interface for capturing videos. Placed under the side button, Apple is expected to take a capacitive approach, abandoning the traditional mechanical button. In the USA, the capture button will replace the mmWave antenna, which will be placed below the volume buttons on iPhone models. For international models, where the mmWave antenna is not present, the button will find its place without any modification.
The location of the capture button would respond to ergonomic considerations, since it is located right side up where the user’s index finger naturally arises during video recording in landscape mode.
The capacitive nature of the button paves the way for different functionalities to come to the same button. For example, a light press can make it easier to adjust the focus, a moderate press can act as a shutter button, and a long press can launch the Camera app.
Mark Gurman clearly recalls thate this new button will not be reserved for Pro models, while design changes are usually incorporated into “Pro” models before being extended to standard models. In this case, the standard and “Pro” models of the iPhone 16 are expected to receive the action button and the capture button simultaneously next year, which could prove quite confusing for many users. We’ll be sure to explain in more detail how the new button works as we learn more.