iPhone 17 Pro Max Camera control is the dumbest, most useless, most in the way feature in smartphone history

[barondebxl]

I’m sorry guys I’m sure yall talked about this at nauseam with the iphone 16 series but im coming from a 14 pro max so this is new to me. My God I hate it so much. I disabled the button but it’s still in the way cause I have a case on and I always accidentally press the button which is annoying. I’m literally in bed right now and asked my wife if she uses it on her iPhone 16 and she almost yelled like “hell no I hate it” lol. They need to get rid of it for the iPhone 18.

 

[arc of the universe]

its already well rumored that apple is not intending to use it in iPhone 18 phones.

something that gives credence to the above rumor is that it was not mentioned in this year's Keynote, at all.

i tend to think of it sort of like the Touch Bar, which was an adaptive display on some MacBook Pro models that changed based on the active application. which also was never popular, and also eliminated after a while.

 

[barondebxl]

its already well rumored that apple is not intending to use in iPhone 18 phones.

something that gives credence to the above rumor is that it was not mentioned in year's Keynote, at all.

Thank God

 

[H_D]

Huh. I love it, use it all the time. Only wish it would be more sensitive and taking a picture could be done without posing the button, that is with less shake. Add it is integrated with a visual intelligence, it makes even more sense as a hardware button. It would be nice if Apple found a way to use it in non-camera usage (fast forward in music, scrolling, etc).

 

[JonoNZ]

I took a while to get used to it but now use it all the time to activate the camera and take shots. It’s how second nature and would be very disappointed if it was removed.

And you get an extra spot on your Home Screen as you don’t need the Camera app icon taking up a space any more.

 

[cbaca51]

I love it actually. Quick access to the camera is awesome

 

[ScottM1988]

I would have preferred a better battery instead of using up the room for the camera control and action button. Useless additions in my opinion

 

[Smoothie]

My 17 Pro Max has an Apple Tech Woven case on it. I can press the button to open the camera and shoot a photo or video but I can’t use any of the light touch functions. I assume the case interferes with it.

 

[4sallypat]

Never used it on my 16 Pro - never have used it on my 17 Air so far.

Agree it's useless because I am not one of those "pro" camera users.

I'd prefer a second action / programmable shortcut key instead.

 

[thecautioners]

I was so excited for it last year. Got my 16PM, tried it once, hated it, never used it again. I was so disappointed. I thought it would allow for seamless zooming in and out while filming but that was a no. That function would have been life changing for me lmao but of course it doesn’t work that way 🙃

 

[dudeski]

I used it maybe once on my 16 pro and haven’t touched it yet on my air. There’s no reason for it when they have a whole camera button dedicated on the lock screen.

 

[surferfb]

It's the only way I use the camera. If it goes away I'm going to be annoyed.

 

[ubinko]

For quick access to the camera app, it's great. But that's about it.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I’ve quickly come to really like it on my Air, and I hardly use the camera! The quick activation of visual intelligence is handy though that’s been a new novelty for me and I probably won’t really use it much. I do agree with others that it would be good to be able to customise it for other uses, and like the suggestion of scrubbing in Music.

 

[MisterSavage]

I set it to double click because I was also accidentally pressing it.

 

[AppleNerd 🤓]

Yeah, i thought it would be good but its really not that useful lol

 

[JamesMcFlyJR]

I like it a lot.

whenever i’m in an app or the phone is in my pocket, i have a dedicated button to instantly launch the camera app. it’s proven to be so effortless. ive gotten so used to it that on other phones im trying to press the right side of the phone (where the camera button would be) to launch the camera

however, ive disabled all of the swipe/half press functionality. absolutely pointless when everything is better adjusted using the actual touchscreen.

 

[AppleNerd 🤓]

I’ve quickly come to really like it on my Air, and I hardly use the camera! The quick activation of visual intelligence is handy though that’s been a new novelty for me and I probably won’t really use it much. I do agree with others that it would be good to be able to customise it for other uses, and like the suggestion of scrubbing in Music.

It is nice for visual intelligence, i just dont really like it otherwise

 

[RPhoto]

My 17 Pro Max has an Apple Tech Woven case on it. I can press the button to open the camera and shoot a photo or video but I can’t use any of the light touch functions. I assume the case interferes with it.

Light tough works here with a Tech Woven case. There may be an issue with the button on your case.

As an aside, I had to order a second case as the finish around the camera button on the first was terrible.

 

[RPhoto]

I like it a lot.

whenever i’m in an app or the phone is in my pocket, i have a dedicated button to instantly launch the camera app. it’s proven to be so effortless. ive gotten so used to it that on other phones im trying to press the right side of the phone (where the camera button would be) to launch the camera

however, ive disabled all of the swipe/half press functionality. absolutely pointless when everything is better adjusted using the actual touchscreen.

I’ve disabled all but exposure compensation, as that’s the most useful for me. Nice to have that on a dedicated control 👌

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Should have been a dumb 2-stage button. The touch sensitivity and swiping nonsense is difficult to use at best and frustratingly annoying at worst.

 

[Moonboots22]

The full functionality of the button isn’t at all intuitive or effective, but it *does* serve the purpose of being the most efficient way to open the camera app in any situation. That’s where it has found value on my 16 Pro.

 

[cocky jeremy]

99% of the time, I literally forget it's even there. I have no idea why Apple thought it was a good idea or useful in any way.

 

[Thor_9]

Just got my 17 PM. Getting use to it. So far no issues.

 

[Melinn]

I don't understand people disliking it. Ever since I started to use iphone 15 years ago I have wished for a camera button on the side!

I take photoes and film videos of pets and nature etc almost everyday! And I have MISSED OUT SO MANY PRICELESS MOMENTS! Due to it taking too long to open the camera app up on the screen!

To me this camera control button is more then a decade too late. I hope they will always include this button on their phones bc its ridicolous to have to fumble with the screen everytime bc as said I have missed so many golden moments due to lack of a button