One of the enduring legacies of Steve Jobs and Jony Ive in Apple’s design philosophy is their commitment to product idealism. At its core, Apple continually strives to simplify the user experience, even with the most complex products that combine cutting-edge hardware with extensive software codebases.

This dedication to simplicity has resulted in a series of wildly successful Apple products that resonate deeply with consumers. The iPhone 15 introduces a feature that perfectly encapsulates Apple’s pursuit of idealism.

Simplifying Complexity

When Apple introduced Portrait Mode to the iPhone in 2016, the objective was to enable smartphone photos to rival the quality of images captured with expensive cameras equipped with long lenses. Achieving this goal involved analyzing photos and adding artificial background blur, a process that initially had its limitations.

The first iteration of Portrait Mode, launched with iOS 10.1, was basic and often required specific conditions to work effectively. Users received prompts to adjust their distance from the subject or find better lighting, as Portrait Mode had its constraints.

However, with advancements in machine learning algorithms and additional phone sensors, Portrait Mode has evolved significantly since 2016. The iPhone 15 takes this technology to a new level by automatically capturing Portrait shots, even without the user activating Portrait Mode.

The Beauty of Simplicity

Apple’s relentless pursuit of simplicity has led to astute technical decisions. Why burden users with the choice to capture data for Portrait shots when the technology can determine its necessity automatically? In the past, Portrait Mode was isolated within a different section of the Camera app due to its constraints. However, the iPhone’s sensors and software have advanced to the point where the device can assess, on a per-shot basis, whether capturing Portrait information is advantageous—eliminating the need for user intervention.

The Perfect Camera App

This feature invites contemplation of Apple’s ultimate objectives in designing the Camera app. While Apple offers users control over the powerful iPhone cameras through expert settings, it recognizes that most users simply want to capture the perfect moment effortlessly by pressing the shutter button.

Apple envisions the ideal Camera app as one with minimal modes, possibly limited to video and still photography. Each interface element should justify its presence, as any redundancy should be eliminated. Apple has already worked on making various levels of zoom a seamless experience within its image processing pipeline.

Continuing on this path, why shouldn’t Action Mode activate automatically? Why not capture multiple full-resolution frames for each shot, allowing users to select the perfect one later? Apple’s goal may ultimately be a Camera app that lets users point and shoot while advanced software processes the best video clips and still images, presenting them in a gallery.

Hardware Simplicity

Hardware, too, plays a role in achieving simplicity. The Action Button introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro exemplifies this. While some initially questioned mapping the Action Button to the Camera app, it simplifies the process of capturing moments.

Imagine reaching into your pocket, grabbing your phone, and already having your finger on the Action Button. With a simple press, the Camera app activates, and you can capture the moment effortlessly. It’s hardware (your fingers) interacting with hardware (the Action Button) in a way that becomes second nature—a prime example of Apple’s pursuit of simplicity.

Apple’s fundamental philosophy revolves around making technology accessible and user-friendly. As hardware and software continue to evolve, so does Apple’s commitment to simplifying the user experience, ultimately allowing people to focus on capturing and enjoying the moments that matter most.