A recent report from The Information has provided additional details on the speculated inclusion of a capture button in the iPhone 16 series. According to the report, this button will be responsive to both touch and pressure, enabling users to “zoom in and out by swiping left and right on it.”
The report asserts that Apple intends to incorporate the capture button across the entire iPhone 16 lineup, featuring a mechanical design that differs from solid-state buttons, ensuring a physical movement upon pressing, akin to existing iPhone buttons.
Despite the mechanical structure, the capture button’s surface will be touch-sensitive, allowing users to execute zoom functions. Furthermore, the button will respond to pressure, allowing users to “bring images into focus by pressing it lightly and activate the shutter by pressing more firmly on the button.”
The report indicates that, apart from the addition of the capture button, no other cosmetic changes are planned to distinguish the iPhone 16 from its predecessor. However, there are rumors suggesting a slight increase in size for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Finally, the report reveals that Apple abandoned its plans to adopt capacitive buttons in the iPhone 15 due to “quality challenges and because the haptic vibrations themselves didn’t meet its standards.”
This rumor enhances the perceived utility of the capture button, with its zooming gestures reminiscent of the swipe function on AirPods Pro for adjusting volume levels. Count me in.
