Tech Desk 
Aug 23, 2025
While the incoming iPhone 17 is considerably far off from its launch, its successor has started causing a buzz in the realm of top-notch smartphones, as a rumour has speculated that the iPhone maker will do away with the Camera Control Button on the iPhone 18.
iPhone 18 leaks: Camera Control Button removal
If the outgoing of iPhone's current, existing Camera Button has disheartened you, then it's worth noting that Apple is also tipped to be rethinking its design.
On an entirely separate end, the most trustworthy of the leakers are of the view that Apple would go to simplify the button to cut costs.
The Camera Control button for the iPhone 18 series is said to be in trial production. However, Apple is expected to abandon the dual-sensor setup and rely solely on pressure sensitivity. This change would remove the capacitive sensor currently used alongside pressure sensors in the iPhone 16 models.
On the iPhone 16, the button features both capacitive and pressure sensing under a sapphire crystal layer. The capacitive system detects gestures, while pressure sensors respond to taps, presses, and swipes. With the new design, pressure sensors will manage all input methods.
This approach is similar to what we see in smartphones like the OPPO X8 Ultra and vivo X200 Ultra, where pressure-based buttons can differentiate between light taps, firm presses, and sliding motions without extra layers.
The leaker pointed out that Apple’s motivation is financial. The existing camera control button is costly to produce and leads to expensive repairs.
The ultimate cost-cutting measures, coupled with delayed AI-powered Visual Intelligence features, have compelled Apple to simplify the hardware for the iPhone 18.
