iOS 18.2 turns Camera Control into the standout feature it was always meant to be
The iPhone 16’s Camera Control Feature Gets Major Improvements in iOS 18.2
The iPhone 16’s Camera Control feature initially received mixed reviews, including mine. However, iOS 18.2 introduces several key upgrades, making it the feature it was always meant to be.
Visual Intelligence Unlocks a New Camera Superpower
With a long press on Camera Control, your iPhone’s camera enters a special mode, providing valuable information about the surroundings and shortcuts to act on that information.
Faster Camera Launch
Another important upgrade in iOS 18.2 is the ability to launch the Camera app more quickly with Camera Control. Head to Settings ⇾ Display and Brightness to find a new toggle for Camera Control: ‘Require Screen On.’
By default, this toggle is enabled, so Camera Control works as it always has. However, if you disable it, the camera will launch even when the iPhone’s display is off. This removes an extra step, allowing you to capture images faster—no need to wake the device or press the screen to open the Camera app.
Two-Stage Shutter for Improved Control
iOS 18.2 also introduces a two-stage shutter feature, as Apple demonstrated in September. In Settings ⇾ Camera ⇾ Camera Control, there’s a new AE/AF Lock toggle. Enabling this lets you lightly press Camera Control to lock both focus and exposure, and press harder to take the photo.
Customizable Double-Click Speed
There’s a new setting in Settings ⇾ Accessibility ⇾ Camera Control that allows you to adjust the speed of the double-click action. You can choose between three options: Default, Slow, and Slower.
Perhaps in iOS 18.3, Apple could consolidate all the Camera Control settings into one screen, as currently, you have to visit three different locations to adjust them.
Camera Control in iOS 18.2: A Useful Upgrade
Camera Control in iOS 18.2 is the feature Apple clearly intended to launch with the iPhone 16. With these upgrades, it transforms the dedicated button into a genuinely useful tool, finally becoming the standout feature it was always meant to be.
Have you tried Camera Control in iOS 18.2? What do you think of the changes? Share your thoughts in the comments.
