Let’s be very clear about something: the iPhone 16’s “Camera Control” is actually a button. It’s a cool, multi-functional button that has a lot to say about how Apple thinks about cameras and AI and the future of how we interact with technology and the world, but it’s a button nonetheless. And the new button might be the most interesting thing about the new line of iPhones.

We also talk a lot about what doesn’t come in these new devices: Apple Intelligence, the AI-powered overhaul that Apple hopes will convince you to upgrade and transform your relationship with your devices. None of that is here yet. So why does Apple ship its AI phones without AI? And when can we expect to see whether the upgrade is actually worth it? We have some thoughts.

If you want to learn more about anything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started: