iOS 18 Upgrades Your iPhone's Buttons with Eye-Catching Visual Effects

There are a lot of great features for your iPhone with iOS 18, released Sept. 16, but one of the coolest features is also one of the simplest and most satisfying — one that you'll notice every day you use your iPhone. And for now, it's an iPhone exclusive, so you won't get the same gratifying experience on an iPad with iPadOS 18.

After updating from iOS 17 to Apple's latest iPhone software update, you'll notice a new visual animation whenever you press a hardware button, whether it's the Volume Up, Volume Down, Side, or Action button.

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The visual effect pops the black bezel out over the screen briefly with a quick button press, like when turning the volume up or down a notch, silencing an incoming call, or locking your iPhone. The black bulge or indent persists for however long you hold a button or combination of buttons for actions such as maxing the volume, taking photo bursts in Camera, and opening the power menu to shut down.

These new button animations also work with the new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. As its name suggests, the Camera Control button is an easier way to take photos and videos, especially in landscape mode, without relying on the Volume buttons or touchscreen. You also get fine-grained controls in the Camera app, and third-party camera apps can also utilize the Camera Control button. The Camera Control button can also start visual intelligence with a click and hold.

There is no way to disable the button press animated effects, but it could appear in an update as Apple continues to fine-tune iOS 18.

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Cover photo, screenshots, and GIFs by Justin Meyers/Gadget Hacks