The iOS 18.2 operating system expands Camera Control with new features

The iPhone 16's camera control feature initially received mixed reviews. However, with the release of iOS 18.2, Apple has made significant improvements and refined the feature.

What's Known About the New Features

One of the most notable improvements in iOS 18.2 is the integration of visual intelligence into the camera controls. When you long-press the “Camera Control” icon, iPhone activates a special mode designed to get detailed information about the world around you, as well as shortcuts that allow you to take immediate actions based on that information.

Apple describes several practical uses for this new feature:

Users can long-press on Camera Control to quickly access important details such as opening hours or reviews of a nearby restaurant, add an event from a flyer directly to the calendar, or even set the date and time of the event on the calendar. Additionally, Camera Control now acts as a gateway to third-party tools, allowing users to search Google for product locations or use ChatGPT to troubleshoot issues.

Another big change in iOS 18.2 is improved camera control responsiveness. The update lets users launch the Camera app faster than ever before.

In addition, iOS 18.2 introduces the two-stage shutter release feature that Apple demonstrated back in September. In Settings > Camera > Camera Control, there’s a new toggle for locking auto exposure/autofocus. Enabling this option lets you lightly press the camera control button to lock focus and exposure, and then press harder – take a picture.