Apple’s latest iPhone 16e model boasts full Apple Intelligence functionality, thanks to its A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. However, unlike other iPhones in the lineup, it lacks Camera Control, a feature that was previously tied to accessing Visual Intelligence.
Visual Intelligence is one of the best use cases for Apple Intelligence, allowing users to point their iPhone’s camera at an object and get information on what they’re looking at, whether through ChatGPT or Google Search. On the 16e, users can assign Visual Intelligence to the Action Button or access it via Control Center.
While this approach is excellent for getting full Apple Intelligence functionality, it may slightly limit user experience. The lack of a dedicated way to launch Visual Intelligence means users must choose between assigning it to the Action Button or using other available shortcuts.
The iPhone 16e is set to be available from February 28, starting at $599 / £599 / AU$999. Those who previously thought Visual Intelligence was only possible on newer iPhones like the iPhone 15 Pro may now see a future upgrade for their devices, but it remains uncertain whether this will happen.
In contrast to the iPhone 16e, the iPhone 15 Pro does not have Visual Intelligence despite having all other Apple Intelligence features. The reason behind this decision is unclear, and it appears that Apple has decided against expanding the feature to this particular model – at least for now.
Source: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/iphone-16e-still-has-apple-intelligences-best-ai-tool-but-you-dont-use-camera-control-to-activate-it-15-pro-owners-should-be-mad