The iPhone 16 feature that’ll almost certainly come to Android

Apple has revealed its new iPhone 16 series phones, and there’s one new design feature that’s been getting plenty of attention. Expect Android phone makers to follow suit very soon.

On the right side of all four models (iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max), just below the power button, you’ll find what’s known as a ‘Camera Control’ button. As you might expect, this can be used as a physical shutter button, but the Action Button on the other side could already be used for that.

Instead, it’s the built-in touch and force sensors that set this new haptic button apart. A light press opens up zoom controls, while a double light press lets you access options such exposure, depth of field and different image styles. A swipe in either direction lets you adjust them to your liking, while it’s also possible to adjust the level of pressure sensitivity.

Impressively, these settings can be controlled just using the button, avoiding the need to ever go into Apple’s Camera app manually.

But it’s the prospect of third-party support which is particularly exciting. We already know that Snapchat is on board, and it’ll be interesting to see how many other developers join the platform, especially with the potential to use it for much more than taking photos and videos.

The Camera Control button isn’t being left out of the AI conversation, either. It’ll work alongside the new Apple Intelligence feature that allows you to get information about an object simply by pointing your camera at it, such as key info about an event or an unusual type of animal.

If it works as well as advertised, this could be a game-changing feature for iPhone users. And what usually happens to exciting new iPhone features? They get copied on many Android phones. I don’t see it being any different for the Camera Control button.

In fact, given the way many Android phone makers focus on cameras, it would make a lot of sense. A dedicated physical shutter button is nothing new – we’ve seen them on Sony’s Xperia handsets (most recently the Xperia 1 VI) for years – but it’s nowhere near as versatile as Apple’s version on paper.

The closest you’ll get right now is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra which, combined with its Photography Kit accessory, offers a two-stage shutter button, zoom lever and video recording button.

But for more casual users looking for a bit more flexibility when it comes to capturing photos and videos, the Camera Control button can’t be matched.

As a result, I don’t think we’ll have to wait long for the first Android clone. It’ll probably have a slightly different name, but it’ll be functionally very similar.

Prolific leaker Evan Blass agrees, stating that “seems like it will be incorporated by a bunch of Android OEMs in pretty short order”.

So, who will be the first to copy Apple? It’s impossible to say. But if you’re considering moving from Android to iPhone just for the Camera Control button, it’s definitely worth holding off for now.