iOS 18 will allow you to record spatial video using third-party applications

Record space video This is one of the distinguishing features of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and there are rumors that it will be present in all iPhone 16 models announced in September. And Apple is working to extend this capability not only to its upcoming line of mobile phones, but also to more apps with iOS 18.

This was confirmed by the company during a session for programmers at WWDC 2024 (via McRumors). Until now, the option included in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max was limited to the default camera app. But in iOS 18 this will no longer be the case thanks to a new API that will allow you to add support for spatial video capture in third-party applications.

As Apple explains, it will be very easy to add spatial video capture to third-party apps. Those from Cupertino indicate that no framework new for working with this type of content in iOS 18, but integrated with others already known to developers. These include, among others, AVFoundation, QuickLook and PhotoKit.

So with iOS 18, creators of iPhone camera apps will be able to enable spatial video recording. A very interesting opportunity, even though what can be done with this material is still very limited. After all, this can only be enjoyed through Apple Vision Pro.

Third-party camera apps will be able to record spatial video starting in iOS 18.

There is still no mention of which camera apps may include support for spatial video recording from iOS 18. There are several offerings for professionals with a very good reputation, such as GalidApple also announced an interesting solution called Final version of the camera. It remains to be seen whether these apps, among many others, will add this feature in the coming months.

Today, spatial video recording is only available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max running iOS 17.2 or later. This is due to the fact that in these models the main and ultra-wide-angle cameras are located vertically. Thus, when using a mobile phone in landscape orientation both sensors are located simultaneously and oriented like the human eye. With spatial video recording, what’s captured by both cameras is combined to create immersive and much more realistic videos that you can enjoy on Apple Vision Pro.

It is expected that the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone Plus will have rear cameras not diagonally, but vertically, as was the case with the iPhone 11 and 12. From then on, this will allow spatial video recording in both “non-pro” models. When mobile phones are used horizontally, the sensors will be located side by side. In late 2023, a rumor surfaced that all iPhone 16s would have a capture button that would allow one-touch spatial video recording. Let’s see if this is true. It has now been confirmed that iOS 18 will open the game so that more camera apps can take advantage of this technology.