Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Apple has just announced its iOS 26 software, and we’ve got a technically impressive Liquid Glass visual design here. However, one visual change that may have flown under the radar is the new camera app. And I really hope Android OEMs don’t copy this decision.
Apple’s new camera app is an exercise in extreme minimalism, according to an official image seen below. The bottom of the viewfinder only contains preset camera zoom buttons, video and photo mode buttons, the camera roll shortcut, and the expected shutter and camera switch keys. Check out the top of the viewfinder, and you’ve got an overflow menu. That’s literally it.
It’s all very clean, but this comes at the expense of usability. That’s largely due to some options being buried behind a tap or upward swipe compared to iOS 18. It also doesn’t help that Apple now only shows photo and video mode options, with no visual sign that you can actually swipe laterally to switch modes. All of these changes could be especially annoying for iPhone owners upgrading from iOS 18 who don’t expect drastic UI changes.
It’s worth noting that team members with the iOS 26 beta report that you can re-enable some viewfinder toggles like the flash, resolution/HEIC, and Live Photos. Nevertheless, it’s clear from Apple’s own material that it wants users to embrace a stripped-down interface for their camera app.
Do you think Android OEMs should copy the new iPhone camera app? 143 votes Yes, for sure 10 % No, absolutely not 90 %
Intuitive doesn’t have to mean simplified
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Now, I’m not saying that a simpler approach is a bad thing, but there is such a thing as oversimplification. An oversimplified viewfinder means that users have to spend a few seconds summoning a menu to find a specific feature or mode. And these precious few seconds could be the difference between getting a shot and missing the moment. Thankfully, Samsung showed the rest of the smartphone world how a camera app redesign should be done.
The Galaxy maker delivered a well-received camera app overhaul in One UI 7, focusing on one-handed usability. The app still features a visible carousel of camera modes at all times, but also brings the overflow menu down to the bottom of the screen. You can also see a quartet of toggles at the top of the viewfinder (flash, resolution, live photo, filters). Needless to say, I think the company achieved its goal without significantly compromising the options at your disposal.
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