For many years, iPhone Pro models have had a powerful camera technology called LiDAR. This amazing technology isn’t just about improving your photos. As it turns out, it’s doing far more behind the scenes than I ever realized.
I noticed it when I opened a design app and was prompted to “scan the room.” I expected a choppy AR experience. After all, not every AR app can be the best. Instead, I saw a perfect 3D model of my living room take shape in real time. This prompted me to ask myself, “What exactly is this LiDAR device quietly doing in my pocket?”
How LiDAR ‘sees’ a room
It’s a lot more than photo-taking
Credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / MakeUseOf
Short for Light Detection and Ranging, LiDAR emits rapid pulses of invisible laser light and measures how long each pulse takes to reflect back. Because it happens thousands of times per second, a 3D map of your surroundings takes shape.
Apple wasn’t the first company to use LiDAR technology. In earlier days, it was used for aerial mapping, autonomous vehicles, and even in archeological digs. Apple first introduced LiDAR on the iPhone 12 Pro. At the time, it was advertised as a tool for better AR and low-light photography.
Since then, the LiDAR sensor in the iPhone Pro series has been significantly improved. On the iPhone 17 Pro, the technology delivers higher resolution, improved accuracy, and faster response times than on previous iPhone Pro models. Working in conjunction with the phone’s A19 neural engine, the technology provides real-time depth interpretation that improves everything from cinematic video to Apple’s Vision Pro headset. In other words, LiDAR can now “see” everything in its path.
What you can do with it
Real examples
Credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / MakeUseOf
Once you recognize that LiDAR is continuously mapping the depth in front of you, you can begin to see the real-world benefits. As noted, it significantly improves your photography, especially in low-light conditions. Portraits look sharper, objects appear more realistic, and video captures offer a softer background blur typically reserved for high-end camera systems.
That same depth-sensing technology also supports room mapping with apps like IKEA and RoomPlan, as well as other interior design tools. With a simple sweep of your phone, LiDAR generates an accurate 3D room model in seconds. As such, you can see how pieces of furniture will look in your home as part of a larger home update you are planning.
LiDAR also improves accessibility. In the built-in Magnifier app, for example, it can alert visually impaired users when objects are nearby, turning spatial awareness into a helpful safety cue.
For artists and designers, LiDAR becomes a valuable creative tool. Walking around an object lets you capture photo-realistic 3D data with professional-grade accuracy. In just minutes, they’re ready for rendering or 3D printing.
Finally, LiDAR technology can enhance facial recognition and camera-assisted apps that rely on depth information. The result: faster recognition, smoother transitions between real-world and augmented content, and better performance in dark environments.
Apps that show off LiDAR fast
See the technology in action
If you’re taking photos with your iPhone Pro’s camera, you have probably already seen LiDAR technology in action. In Portrait mode, for example, LiDAR is what’s used to blur the backgrounds smoothly. Beyond this, if you want to see the difference rather than just read about it, several apps can make LiDAR more visible.
The first app you should use to convert physical environments into digital 3D spaces is Polycam. This app enables you to create precise digital models of objects, rooms, and entire environments through its fast, reliable scanning process. You can also generate 2D floor plans from your scanned data and save them in industry-standard formats for design or editing.
Meanwhile, Canvas LiDAR 3D Measurements works similarly by allowing you to scan interior areas to generate a measurable 3D model that captures your room dimensions. You can convert your scanned images into editable CAD or BIM models and exact floor plans, which is especially useful if you work in construction or own residential property.
And then there’s SiteScape, a 3D scanning app ideally suited for architects, engineers, and construction professionals. It’s designed to capture inch-accurate 3D scans of buildings, rooms, and sites. From there, the designs can be exported to tools such as SketchUp, AutoCAD, Navisworks, and more.
Finally, there’s the native Measure app, which comes standard on Apple devices and also uses LiDAR technology. Your device functions as a digital tape measure, allowing you to record measurements of objects and environments accurately—and even measure human height automatically with no input from you.
LiDAR technology is available on iPhone Pro models (starting with the iPhone 12 Pro) and delivers effects beyond camera functionality. The technology has become a fundamental component, enabling the iPhone to perceive its environment by enhancing low-light photography, performing detailed 3D scanning, and providing better accessibility features. LiDAR technology demonstrates how often-overlooked sensors can unlock their full potential in space design, digital art creation, and photo enhancement.