iPhone 18 could say goodbye to Apple's newest button: details leaked

Camera Control , one of the big new features that arrived with the iPhone 16 series in 2024, could disappear sooner than expected. According to a recent leak on the Chinese social network Weibo , Apple has reportedly already notified suppliers that it will not include this button in the upcoming iPhone 18 series, scheduled for 2026.

The decision is believed to be primarily motivated by two factors: low user adoption and the need to reduce manufacturing costs.

Camera Control was introduced as an advanced tool for managing photography parameters like focus, exposure, and zoom. However, in practice, most users use it solely as a shortcut to the camera , according to specialized media outlets such as The Verge and MacRumors .

“The reality is that it hasn't had the impact Apple hoped for on the iPhone's photography experience,” MacRumors notes in an analysis of the button's usefulness.

Removing features that don't meet expectations is nothing new for the Cupertino company. The most famous example is the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar , which was discontinued after years of criticism for its limited usefulness. The same thing happened with 3D Touch , which only lasted a few years on iPhones.

If the rumor is confirmed, Camera Control would have a useful life of just two generations : iPhone 16 and iPhone 17, which will be presented on September 9, 2025.

Although Apple hasn't confirmed this information, the possibility fits with the brand's strategy of simplifying its hardware and focusing on more widely accepted features.

For now, we'll have to wait for the official unveiling of the iPhone 17 to see whether Apple strengthens or relegates this controversial "Camera Control" feature to oblivion.