Apple fans are revelling in one of their favourite occasions of the year – the announcement of a new iPhone.
The iPhone 16 unveiled last night features new AI capabilities, camera upgrades plus a boost in battery life, available in a range of colours.
But it is surely the arrival of a brand new button on the edge of the device that is getting people most excited.
The capture button needs to be pressed once to bring up the camera app to take photos and even delivers haptic feedback, much like a video game controller.
Commentators have called the nifty selfie shortcut ‘incredible’ and the ‘coolest feature ever’, but other fans are sharing 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 – needs to be pressed once to bring up the camera app to take photos
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus were the first two smartphones unveiled at the event, with Apple claiming they ‘mark the beginning of a new era for iPhone’
With the new iPhone 16, a solid push of 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 push snaps a photo.
But users can also scroll their finger back and forth along the length of the button to zoom in and out.
Naturally, fans have started to wonder how that is ‘going to work with a case’ that’s covering the edges of the device.
On its website, Apple claims the capture button works ‘seamlessly’ with a new phone case that has ‘sapphire crystal’ and a ‘conductive layer to communicate finger movements’.
Apple is selling this official iPhone 16 case in a range of colours on its website for a hefty £49 – an extra expense on top of the price of the phone itself.
Commentators have called it ‘incredible’ and the ‘coolest feature ever’, but other fans are sharing concerns that it won’t work with a case
A solid push of the capture button immediately brings up the camera app, while a second push snaps a photo. But users can also scroll their finger back and forth along the length of the button to zoom in and out. Naturally fans started to wonder how that is ‘going to work with a case’ around the device
Another X user said: ‘But then you have to buy a phone cover. ‘Wondering how you will use that camera feature then’
X user @Erick_O_Mokua said capture button ‘looks incredible’ in response to a video demonstrating how it works
This official case doesn’t have a cut-out hole for the capture button, but instead uses ‘sapphire crystal’ and a ‘conductive layer to communicate finger movements’
Ultimately, it means cases sold by third-party vendors may not allow the capture button to work; MailOnline has contacted Apple for more information.
Capture button sits flush with the side of the phone, rather than sticking out, so it may be more difficult to press with a case than without.
MailOnline’s Shivali Best, who is in Cupertino for the iPhone 16 unveiling event, said the new button requires a ‘solid push’ and ‘takes some getting used to’.
iPhone 16 – which comes out on September 20 – also comes equipped with another button dubbed the ‘action button’ on the other side, above the volume controls.
While the action button was only included in the iPhone 15 Pro smartphones last year, Apple has put it on all four iPhone 16 variants this year.
Apple’s new iPhone 16 will come in much more pastel and vibrant colors than previous models
The iPhone 16, starting at $799/£799, comes in two display 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 – respectively have 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays 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 AI-linked tasks and Apple Intelligence.
