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The move is likely to divide opinion. Some people out there are still clinging to older iPhones with home buttons -- they're likely to be thrilled that when forced to upgrade they have the option of more physical controls. Others may wonder why it's necessary for Apple to backtrack in this way. As someone who has been using a physical camera grip with a phone this year to capture some of my favorite photos, I'm personally excited to see if the camera control can improve my photography.
The return to buttons likely wasn't an easy decision for Apple, but rather a tradeoff that will allow it to enable more exciting and complex features -- especially when it comes to integrating Apple Intelligence into the iPhone. For many years, the company has been gradually minimising the ways in which we physically interact with our phones, including by encouraging us to interact with Siri using our voice. Instead of clicking, pressing and holding, we've been swiping in and down from the sides of the screen.
There are some experiences, though, that buttons may just be better for enabling. We've already seen this year that dedicated Copilot buttons have been introduced on many new Windows laptops. To maximize the AI and software capabilities, some adjustments to the baseline hardware is necessary. Even Apple seems to be recognizing that. It puts features like Apple's Visual Intelligence -- its version of Google Lens -- directly at people's fingertips. It also makes the camera, which is still one of the most highly prized features of any iPhone, more central and easily accessible.
Maybe at some point Apple will find new ways to integrate these controls that don't require buttons, but it seems that, for now at least, the physical button is officially back from the dead and finding a new lease of life, as AI becomes increasingly integrated into our devices.
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Source: cnet.com