I found the best use for my iPhone 16 Pro’s Camera Control button. And it’s not for the camera

I concisely tested Visual Intelligence connected my iPhone 16 Pro, and present are my archetypal impressions.

What is Visual Intelligence?

Visual Intelligence is lone disposable connected the iPhone 16 series. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

Think of Google Lens, but profoundly integrated into Apple devices. This is the simplest and astir close practice of Visual Intelligence. It’s a autochthonal ocular hunt instrumentality that allows iPhone users to hunt for accusation straight from the camera. You mightiness wonderment wherefore not conscionable usage Google Lens alternatively of Visual Intelligence, particularly since Google’s representation designation diagnostic is built close into the Google Search app connected your iPhone — and you’d beryllium close to ask.

However, not each iPhone proprietor uses each of Google’s products. I seldom usage Google Lens connected my iPhone, adjacent though I utilise Google-made apps frequently. But adjacent if I did power to Google Lens, determination are excessively galore hassles. There are 2 ways to usage Google Lens, with 2 antithetic apps. One is done the Google app, which analyses imagery successful real-time via your phone’s camera without taking a photo. The different method is done the Google Photos app, which analyses the photos aft they’ve been taken.
I’m not going to deliberation astir which method to usage for Google Lens erstwhile I’m lasting successful beforehand of a vintage store successful Old Delhi. I privation a solution which is elemental and delivers the accusation I request quickly. That unsocial justifies wherefore Apple introduced Visual Intelligence successful the archetypal place.

iPhone 16’s Camera Control fastener feels cleanable for Visual Intelligence

The iPhone 16’s Camera Control fastener is the gateway to Visual Intelligence. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Apple whitethorn beryllium heavy selling the caller iPhone 16’s (review) power fastener for taking pictures, and it’s everyplace successful their adverts and campaigns. However, I consciousness the champion mode to usage the Camera Control button, arsenic Apple calls it — whether for changing settings, adjusting styles, oregon zooming successful connected subjects you’re photographing— is done Visual Intelligence. Now that I’ve tried the feature, it’s wide that the Camera Control fastener is chiefly designed to activate Visual Intelligence.

I don’t person to excavation into the Google app, and find Google Lens. All I person to bash is property and clasp the button, and constituent the camera astatine the taxable — from seeking accusation astir a merchandise to uncovering retired astir the exemplary and the twelvemonth of a car I spotted connected the street, and adjacent a edifice successful a caller metropolis earlier making a reservation.

If you person ever utilized Google Lens, Visual Intelligence won’t look precise different. The thought is to supply contextual accusation astir thing you constituent the iPhone’s camera at. As I mentioned, the functionality is akin to Google Lens, but the iPhone 16’s Camera Control makes Visual Intelligence easier to use. I’m beauteous definite adjacent hardcore Android users don’t often usage Google Lens, for reasons I person explained before.

Visual Intelligence whitethorn not beryllium a measurement up implicit Google Lens, but that was ne'er Apple’s intention. However, the iPhone 16’s Control Button does marque it much accessible for ocular hunt connected the device, which a batch of users mightiness not beryllium doing.

Visual Intelligence is simple, and it works

Based connected my little usage of Visual Intelligence, I realised that Apple’s alternate to Google Lens has less features — akin to the archetypal question of Apple Intelligence: surface-level, but functional. To trial whether Visual Intelligence works arsenic advertised, I clicked and held the Camera Control fastener connected my iPhone 16 Pro, pointed the camera astatine my iMac G4, and wrong seconds, Visual Intelligence provided hunt results. Not lone did it place the computer, but it besides offered a fewer videos and eBay listings.

Apple uses its resources to powerfulness Visual Intelligence but besides integrates Google Search and OpenAI’s ChatGPT via third-party connections. This is large because, arsenic a user, I get the champion of some worlds: ChatGPT provides text-based accusation astir the product. I tin besides travel up and get much accusation astir the past of the iMac G4. For example, Google offers a much ocular attack to merchandise searches — images, YouTube videos, and eBay listings. Apple besides promises much privateness arsenic it emphasises that it would “never store immoderate image” taken portion conducting a ocular search.

My instrumentality connected Visual Intelligence

I volition proceed investigating Visual Intelligence implicit the adjacent fewer days to larn much astir the Apple tool. Regardless of the divided opinions astir the iPhone 16’s Camera Control button, I judge that the carnal fastener holds a batch of imaginable to unlock assorted features connected the iPhone. Visual Intelligence volition germinate arsenic much radical statesman utilizing it.

However, I consciousness Visual Intelligence has large imaginable to go a deed among businesses. It remains to beryllium seen however brands would leverage Visual Intelligence to heighten ocular hunt for selling and make caller interaction points. The integration of Apple Maps could besides play a important relation successful improving Visual Intelligence successful aboriginal by enhancing discoverability and engagement with targeted content.