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Apple fans are enjoying one of their favorite occasions of the year: the announcement of a new iPhone.
The iPhone 16 unveiled last night features new artificial intelligence capabilities, camera upgrades, and longer battery life, and is available in a variety of colors.
But it’s the arrival of a new button on the edge of the device that has people most excited.
You need to press the capture button once to bring up the camera app to take photos, and it even provides haptic feedback, much like a video game controller.
Commenters have called the clever selfie shortcut “amazing” and “the coolest feature ever,” but other fans share concerns that it won’t work with a case.
The capture button, located on the edge of the phone to the right of the screen, must be pressed once to bring up the camera app for taking photos.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus were the first two smartphones unveiled at the event, with Apple saying they “mark the dawn of a new era for iPhone.”
With the new iPhone 16, a firm press on the capture button, located on the edge of the phone to the right of the screen, immediately brings up the camera app, while a second press takes a photo.
But users can also slide their finger back and forth along the button to zoom in and out.
Naturally, fans started to wonder how this will work with a case that covers the edges of the device.
On its website, Apple says the capture button works “seamlessly” with a new phone case that features “sapphire crystal” and a “conductive layer to communicate finger movements.”
Apple sells this official iPhone 16 case in a range of colours on its website for a hefty £49, an additional expense on top of the price of the phone itself.
Commentators have called it “amazing” and “the coolest feature ever,” but other fans share concerns that it won’t work with a case.
A firm press on the capture button immediately opens the camera app, while a second press takes a photo. But users can also swipe their finger back and forth along the button to zoom in or out. Naturally, fans began to wonder how “that will work with a case” around the device.
Another X user said: ‘But then you have to buy a phone case. I wonder how you’ll use that camera feature then?’
User X @Erick_O_Mokua said the capture button “looks amazing” in response to a video demonstrating how it works
This official case doesn’t have a hole for the capture button, instead using a “sapphire crystal” and a “conductive layer to communicate finger movements.”
This ultimately means that cases sold by third-party vendors might not allow the capture button to work; MailOnline has contacted Apple for more information.
The capture button is flush with the side of the phone, rather than protruding, so it may be harder to press with a case than without.
MailOnline’s Shivali Best, who is in Cupertino for the iPhone 16 launch event, said the new button requires a “firm press” and “takes some getting used to”.
The iPhone 16, due out September 20, also comes equipped with another button called the “action button” on the other side, above the volume controls.
While the action button was only included on the iPhone 15 Pro smartphones last year, Apple has included it on all four variants of the iPhone 16 this year.
Apple’s new iPhone 16 will come in much more pastel and vibrant colors than previous models
The iPhone 16, which starts at $799/£799, comes in two screen sizes: 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches for the Plus model (which costs £899/$899).
Meanwhile, the two most expensive options, the Pro and Pro Max, have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays respectively and cost £999/$999 and £1,199/$1,199.
The phones are powered by new A18 chips, which feature a 16-core Neural Engine designed for generative tasks related to AI and Apple Intelligence.
