A reliable Chinese leaker has pushed back against rumors that Apple plans to eliminate the Camera Control button from the upcoming iPhone 18, instead suggesting the company is working to reduce costs by simplifying the component.
According to Instant Digital, a trusted Weibo source, Apple will maintain pressure-sensitive modules for the iPhone 18 series, but remove the capacitive sensor from its current dual-sensor design. The revised approach relies solely on pressure sensing to achieve all button functions, similar to devices like OPPO X8 Ultra and vivo X200 Ultra.
The current Camera Control button uses both capacitive and force sensors beneath a sapphire crystal surface, detecting touch gestures and pressure levels for taps, presses, and swipes. However, Apple has deemed the current solution “genuinely very expensive” and is implementing cost-saving measures to limit costly after-sales repairs.
Instant Digital’s track record of accurate leaks suggests that this change is indeed genuine, contradicting recent rumors about the Camera Control button being dropped from the iPhone 18 lineup due to low user engagement.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/08/22/iphone-18-camera-control-button-simplified