Apple is rumored to include a new button with the iPhone 16 lineup, and a new report from The Information sheds light on what to expect with the tentatively named Capture button and how it will improve the camera experience on the upcoming iPhone.
The new Capture button will primarily be used for numerous functions when taking photos, the report explains. For example, users will be able to swipe left and right on the button to zoom in and out, entailing that the button will have a touch surface that responds to gestures without being pressed. The Capture button will also respond to different pressure levels despite being mechanical and not capacitive.
A light press on the button will bring whatever subject in the camera viewfinder into focus, whereas a firmer press will trigger the shutter to capture a photo. Apple plans to add the Capture button to all models of the iPhone 16 lineup, meaning that it won’t be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, unlike the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The Capture button will likely be placed on the right edge of the iPhone below the Power button, putting it in an ideal position when shooting horizontal photos and video. As such, the 5G mmWave antenna on the models sold in the United States will be shifted to the left edge below the volume buttons.
Apple believes the new button to a major selling point for the iPhone 16, the report adds. The Capture button will further cement the iPhone as a camera replacement, especially as the company plans to add another 48-megapixel sensor to the iPhone 16 Pro devices.
No other external changes are planned for the upcoming iPhone besides slightly taller displays on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, so Apple is betting big on the Capture button and its functionality.
