Apple Will Redesign IPhone 18 Camera Control, Not Delete It

JAKARTA The latest rumors surrounding the iPhone 18 dismissed reports that Apple will remove the Camera Control button on its next-generation devices. Instead, Apple is reportedly redesigning this feature to reduce production and maintenance costs. This is known from reports from trusted leakers on the Weibo platform, Instant Digital, which was broadcast by William Gallagher on August 22, 2025.

Previously, a report from another Weibo leaker, OvO, claimed that Apple would stop using Camera Control on the iPhone 18 in 2026 due to the low use of this feature. However, these claims are considered less credible because OvO has a weak track record and often just repeats rumors from other sources without any additional confirmation. Now, Instant Digital, which is known to have a better reputation in terms of information leakage, denies these claims and provides a new picture of Apple's plans.

According to Instant Digital, Apple will not remove Camera Control, but it will simplify its design to cut costs. Camera Control Button on the iPhone 16 Pro currently has capacitive and pressure sensitive technology, which allows users to perform gestures such as touch, long press, and shift to operate the camera.

In redesign for the iPhone 18, Apple is rumored to be removing capacitor components, so the button will only use a pressure-sensitive mechanism. However, gesture functions such as touch, press length, and slip will still be maintained.

Camera Control Production Fee

The report also mentions that Camera Control is currently considered expensive for production and service. This high cost is one of the main reasons Apple is considering design changes. In addition, the Visual Intelligence feature integrated with this button is reportedly less popular among users. According to Digital Instant, the low use of this feature has triggered internal pressure on Apple to make Camera Control more cost-effective without sacrificing its main function.

Although deemed underuseable, Camera Control remains one of the innovations introduced by Apple to improve user experience in operating iPhone cameras. This feature allows fast and intuitive access to camera settings, such as zoom, exposure, and shooting mode, only via gestures on buttons.

Instant Digital has a stronger track record than OvO, especially in terms of information leakage related to Apple's camera features. This leaker was previously one of the initial sources that accurately predicted the presence of Camera Control on previous iPhone models. Therefore, this latest report is considered more trustworthy and strengthens the possibility that Apple will retain this feature with a more efficient approach.

If these rumors are true, iPhone 18 users will still enjoy the ease of Camera Control, even with a simpler design. Apple's move to simplify this feature shows the company's efforts to balance innovation with cost efficiency, while maintaining an intuitive user experience. However, until Apple officially announced the specifications of the iPhone 18, this information remains speculative.

This rumor adds to the long list of anticipations for the iPhone 18, which is expected to bring a number of technological upgrades, as well as answer increasingly competitive market challenges. Apple fans are now looking forward to further confirmation of the features to be presented to the next generation of devices.