I feel like a lot of people are not using this button as it was meant to be used. I always see complaints about how awkward it is to reach with your thumb when holding the phone upright.
It’s actually meant for landscape mode. When you hold the phone sideways, the button is right where the shutter button would be on a regular camera. It works well this way, and the swipe-to-zoom feature is pretty handy too. You get a full view of the screen while shooting, which makes it easier than tapping the screen.
The only thing I like about it is that it opens the camera quickly. Pressing it too hard makes my photos blurry because the phone moves. Using the screen button gives me better shots.
Micah said:
The only thing I like about it is that it opens the camera quickly. Pressing it too hard makes my photos blurry because the phone moves. Using the screen button gives me better shots.
Did you know you can also use it to zoom, switch cameras, and adjust settings?
Dakota said:
I like how fast it opens the camera. Makes it easier to capture moments without fumbling around.
Same here! I still use a compact camera sometimes, so this button feels natural to me. With a case on, the phone even feels a bit more like a real camera.
Yes! It reminds me of older cameras—whether film, digital, or even those disposable ones. Some people might not have used those before, so they probably don’t realise why the button is placed like that.
I think it was originally meant for visual intelligence stuff, but yeah, for taking photos, I totally agree. I mainly use it to launch the camera quickly instead of unlocking my phone first.
But then I had to send my phone in for a repair and went back to my old iPhone 12 for a week. I missed the action button so much! Being able to quickly launch the camera and use the flashlight shortcut was really nice. As someone who enjoys photography, I also love how you can lightly press to focus and fully press to take the shot.
I like it for quickly opening the camera. I changed the settings so I only have to press it once to open the camera, even when the screen is off. The default setting needs two presses, which was annoying.
Also, now I can use the lock screen shortcut for something else instead. I don’t mess with camera settings much, so I don’t use the extra features, but I still think it’s useful.