iPhone 16e Supports Visual Intelligence Without Camera Control Button

Visual Intelligence, an Apple Intelligence feature that has thus far been tied to the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 models, is available on the iPhone 16e even though it does not have the dedicated button for activating the camera.

iphone 16e action button
On its website, Apple says that the ‌Visual Intelligence‌ can be activated on the ‌iPhone 16e‌ using the Action button or the Control Center.

"With a press, you can use visual intelligence, call your best friend, launch your favorite app, and more," reads the description of the feature.

Tying ‌Visual Intelligence‌ to the Camera Control button was a convenient way for Apple to explain why the feature wasn't added to the iPhone 15 Pro models, but it's clear the feature can work on the older iPhones if it can be used with the Action button on the 16e.

It's possible that Apple will add ‌Visual Intelligence‌ support to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models in an upcoming iOS update, but it's also equally possible that it will remain an ‌iPhone 16‌ feature.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16e
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 16e (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

alayal Avatar
20 weeks ago
If they don’t do it for the iPhone 15 pro would be so stupid
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Oak Avatar
20 weeks ago
Having a 15 Pro ... this is definitely a slap in the face.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jhonjhon236 Avatar
20 weeks ago
If this still remains an iPhone 16 series exclusive feature and not released to the 15 Pro (especially when it has been proven that you can run it on the 15 Pro) that would be super silly.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
20 weeks ago
Got to love fragmentation,

To use Visual Intelligence you need a 16 Pro with a camera button, 15 Pro it's tough luck for you, or the 16e you can use the action button that the 15 Pro has, but you can't, or if you want to use the action button for it on the 16 Pro you can't either!

Who the bloody hell is in charge of UI designs these days because they honestly don't know what they are doing, even more baffling is multiple people have seen this and signed off on it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nickerbocker Avatar
20 weeks ago
Thats fine. I'm suspicious that the camera control button is even going to survive to the next generation. I keep trying to adjust my picture setting with it and almost always find using the touch screen faster and more covenant at finding and selecting the right options. It is nice as a basic button to open the camera and take a quick picture but the touch functionality is weak IMO.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
20 weeks ago
Visual Intelligence requiring Camera Control button was always a silly gatekeeping feature. But this is Apple being Apple. The most silly instance of gatekeeping was iPhone 14 supporting new features when it had the same SoC as iPhone 13.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)