Starting around June this year, there have been a lot of revelations about the new iPhone camera button on the Internet. In Xiao Lei’s opinion at the time, this so-called shortcut camera button was a joke. An old function that was played badly by Android manufacturers was actually used by Apple. Pick it up again and “treat it like a treasure”. It wasn’t until Apple explained why they wanted to do this feature at the press conference that Xiao Lei confirmed his suspicion: Apple was really dead.
Today, the iPhone 16 series is being selected. Xiao Lei bought an iPhone 16 Pro on Ele.me. Regarding performance, imaging, heat dissipation and other items, Lei Technology is continuously outputting relevant objective tests. In this article, we focus on Apple’s new camera button to see if it counts as an “interactive revolution” as some “fruit media” call it?
Amazing at first sight, terrible experience
First of all, Xiao Lei must admit that Apple is indeed a long way ahead of other manufacturers in terms of aesthetics. This new camera button is not just an interactive button like previous Android manufacturers, but makes it as close to the frame as possible. Blend together. At the same time, in order to distinguish the power button and the camera button, Apple also thoughtfully covered its surface with a layer of sapphire material, which brings a good touch feel.
However, perhaps there are some quality control issues with the iPhone 16 Pro in Xiaolei’s hands. Every time he “touches” this button from the frame, he always feels a little bit cut. After using an unofficial protective case, it feels better. So true.
(Photo source: Photographed by Lei Technology)By the way, it is also mentioned here that because none of the third-party mobile phone cases currently on the market are equipped with Apple’s same conductive button cover in time, the solution can only be solved by digging holes in the frame of the mobile phone case. This low-cost solution The problem caused by this method is that the camera button of the iPhone 16 series feels worse.
(Image source: Baseus official)Before I officially experience this button, let me give you some popular science. Strictly speaking, the camera button of the iPhone 16 series is not a solid button. It is actually a capacitive touch sensor covered with sapphire, and there is also a set of buttons inside. High-precision sensors and vibration-sensing motors provide users with corresponding vibration feedback when operating.
Of course, you can also think of it as the spiritual successor to the iPhone 7’s capacitive Home button. (In fact, the implementation principle is completely different)
logical confusion,
Is the Apple button just a semi-finished product?
Just when Xiao Lei felt that the camera button of the iPhone 16 series was quite satisfactory. Although it was not innovative, it was not difficult to use. Xiao Lei turned on the camera and felt such an awkward operating logic for the first time on Apple.
Without changing the settings, clicking the camera button will directly enter the shooting page, and Apple has also thoughtfully made a transition animation from the button to the shooting page, which is quite in line with Apple’s tone.
(Image source: Lei Technology Drawing)On the shooting page, click the camera button to take a photo. Press and hold to enter the video recording mode. The recording time depends on how long you press it.At first glance, there is nothing wrong with this interaction logic, but when you need to record for a long time, this button becomes a burden, because you need to press the button with your finger the whole time. In actual testing, you will feel some discomfort after pressing it for about 10 seconds. Only suitable for short-term recording.
(Image source: Lei Technology Drawing)Secondly, when you press and hold the camera button for about half a second on the shooting page, its function will change from taking photos to adjusting the focal length. At this time, you can adjust the focal length multiple of the camera by sliding on the button. This is very easy to use and practical. Especially suitable for one-handed shooting.
But if you want to seamlessly switch between focal length, exposure compensation, and depth of field size like Apple demonstrated at the conference, it’s almost impossible.Because every time you want to switch from one function to another, you need to press twice quickly without leaving your finger from the touch area of the camera button. Once your finger leaves the touch area or the pressing speed is slightly slower, Unable to return to the function menu normally.
(Image source: Lei Technology Drawing)Did you think this was the end?Of course not. For example, Xiaolei has selected the composition and adjusted the appropriate focal length, but when he needs to lower the exposure slightly, he needs to quickly press twice to return to the function menu, then find the exposure compensation option in the menu and click Relevant parameter adjustments can be made only after pressing for several times.
Putting aside the troublesomeness of this set of operations, the picture you just wanted to shoot may have changed in just one or two seconds of operation, which can be said to be completely impractical.
At this time, there will definitely be readers who will stand up and “pump”, so can’t you just press the shutter button to take the picture? Of course, but if Xiaolei still uses the previous operation logic to shoot, does it mean that this camera button does not play any positive role in the entire shooting process? (Maybe it can quickly wake up the camera)
In addition, careful readers may have discovered that all previous operations were based on the horizontal screen state, but have you ever thought about whether the operation logic is adapted accordingly when it is in the vertical state?
Let’s just say the conclusion, no.
To give the simplest example, when Xiao Lei uses the camera button to adjust the zoom in landscape mode, sliding down the camera body will increase the magnification, and sliding upward will decrease the magnification. This is very logical; But when Xiaolei puts the phone up and performs the same operation, the operation logic will be exactly the same as before. This is very inconsistent with intuitive logic. After all, how can there be an interactive solution where sliding down will actually make it larger?
(landscape state)
(Portrait screen status)By the way, it is really awkward to use the camera button when held vertically, especially the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, two mobile phones with a somewhat upward center of gravity. When you put your thumb on When the camera button is pressed, you will clearly feel the phone falling back.
(Photo source: Photographed by Lei Technology)How should I put it? One-click photo taking and video recording are indeed Xiaolei’s favorite functions, but the zoom slide seems unnecessary.
In addition, rather than adjusting the depth of field, switching photography styles and other functions, Xiao Lei hopes that Apple can replace it with shutter speed and ISO, which can help enthusiasts like Xiao Lei get a better experience from the camera.
To make a simple summary, it can be seen that Apple wants to make iPhone shooting more professional and more personalized, but obviously judging from the answers they have handed over so far, it is completely unqualified.This is mainly because Apple wants to integrate most parameter adjustments into one button, which is very unreasonable. If it only serves to wake up the camera and take pictures quickly, this button is indeed qualified.
As an enthusiast who has used many professional mirrorless cameras, Xiao Lei found that the most unacceptable thing is that the number of buttons and impellers on the camera is too small. Obviously, you can directly use multiple buttons to quickly adjust parameters, but there are always some manufacturers who like Integrating two or even three parameter adjustments on the same button/wheel makes it easy to make mistakes when shooting.
(Photo source: Photographed by Lei Technology)Apple obviously made this mistake. It wanted to integrate five functions on the same button. It was wrong from the beginning. Even Apple could not think of a better interaction solution.On the other hand, Android flagships basically provide a large number of parameter adjustment options on the shooting page. These are truly practical functions, rather than stuffing them all into the same menu.
(Photo source: Photographed by Lei Technology)If Apple can further develop the potential of this button in the future, such as switching songs/adjusting the volume while playing music, changing filters/soundtracks in Douyin, and adjusting the video progress bar on some video platforms, it may still have some meaning. , anyway, for now, Xiaolei personally is very unfavorable about this camera button, and it can even be said that its experience has completely failed to meet expectations.
Write at the end:
Innovation for the sake of innovation is meaningless
Going back to the original question, is the camera button on the iPhone 16 series really the biggest innovation? From a certain point of view, it does count. After all, it allows others to know at a glance that you are using the latest iPhone. But from a practical and functional point of view, it is at best innovation for the sake of innovation, at least in Xiaolei. Here, it really doesn’t show any advantage points.
It’s a bit funny to say that in the early years, the iPhone was the real benchmark product in the mobile phone market, but in recent years, it has gradually been separated by Android flagships. The proud A-series processors have also fallen behind due to heat dissipation and other issues. With Snapdragon and Dimensity processors, perhaps today’s iPhone only has one ecosystem left and iOS can compete with Android.
But then again, for users who are still using the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 series, this iPhone 16 series does not have much appeal, but for users of older iPhones, there is no increase in price for increasing the quantity. The iPhone 16 series is still worth buying. If you want to try something new as soon as possible, placing an order on Ele.me is a good choice. You can get the new phone within half an hour after placing the order. Customized services such as installment payment, sealed packaging, and dedicated delivery are also supported.
