• Apple may stick with the Camera Control button
• Previous rumors suggested it wouldn’t be on the iPhone 18
• We may see a simpler button on future iPhones

Last week we heard a rumor that the iPhone 17 would be the last to sport the Camera Control, which was only introduced last year with the iPhone 16 – but a fresh leak suggests the button will live on, albeit in a different form.

The new rumor comes from well-known tipster Instant Digital (via MacRumors), which states that Camera Control components are in production for the iPhone 18. That refutes the idea that Apple would get rid of it as it’s not seeing a lot of use.

There is a twist though: Apple is apparently removing the capacitive sensor next year to cut down on costs. That’s the sensor that detects any kind of touch or swipe, enabling users to gradually change settings like exposure or zoom.

That will leave only the pressure sensor, detecting distinct touches of different strengths. We’ll have to wait and see how that might affect the different functions of Camera Control – some of them might be remapped or replaced, with the help of iOS.

Mixed reactions

When the Camera Control was introduced with the iPhone 16 models, Apple described it as a feature that “elevates the camera experience” and which is “packed with innovation” – offering easier access to various camera controls and Visual Intelligence.

In our iPhone 16 review, we described it as “major enhancement” for the Apple handsets, and in fact the “best addition” to the 2024 handsets. However, it didn’t make an appearance on the iPhone 16e that Apple launched the following February.

Despite our enthusiasm for the small button, it’s fair to say the reaction overall has been mixed. Some have struggled to find a real purpose for the Camera Control, but it seems that some time and effort investment is required to make the most of it.

What seems clear is that we’ll get the standard Camera Control button back again with all four iPhone 17 handsets in September – including, if the leaks are to be believed, the iPhone 17 Air that’s supposedly replacing the iPhone 16 Plus this year.

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Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.