The iPhone 17E Is Missing a Major Feature, but Here's Why That's a Good Thing

Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology for CNET. He is also the author of dozens of how-to books covering a wide spectrum ranging from Apple devices and cameras to photo editing software and PalmPilots. He drinks a lot of coffee in Seattle.

Apple announced the iPhone 17E this week, and with it came a surprise: MagSafe support for magnetic charging and accessories. For an entry-level iPhone, I was expecting an updated processor and maybe more storage (both of which it got), so MagSafe is a nice bonus.

But one major iPhone feature didn't make the jump: the Camera Control button. And I'd say that's the right choice.

The Camera Control is simultaneously an ingenious idea, a masterwork of precision engineering -- and an utterly frustrating experience. It echoes the ...