Here is why iPhone 16 has vertical cameras

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It is in the iPhone 16 that one finds a slight change of disposition of the rear camera where instead of being side by side in a parallel manner, they are now arranged vertically one above the other. This shift isn’t just to look better—it is built with a feature in mind.

Vertical Cameras Shoot Spatial Videos and Photos

Spatial video is Apple’s name for stereographic video, where two video streams are captured at once to provide a sense of depth (or a 3D effect) in the final video. Spatial photos are the same but with still images.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max were the first iPhone devices capable of shooting these videos, and now the entire iPhone 16 family (including the base models) joins them.

The big selling point for stereographic video is the sense of depth made possible when shooting video from two slightly different angles. In the case of the iPhone, this isn’t just a matter of syncing up two video streams but also cropping and adjusting the image shot using an ultrawide lens to make the effect possible.

These spatial videos and photos work well when there is a clear distinction between a subject in the foreground and the background. Foreground objects, like a person walking towards you, will have a clear definition that’s simply not there in a traditional single-lens video.

That is, as long as you’re viewing the spatial video or photo on a device that can make the most of the format.

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Spatial Videos are Part of the Apple Vision Pro Push

When the Apple Vision Pro first launched, some described spatial video as the headset’s “killer feature” (but people have also said that about different aspects of the headset). Though taking a spatial video of a cherished moment with a big lump of aluminium and glass on your head feels pretty silly, taking a video with your smartphone is now pretty normal.

Spatial videos appear like any other 2D video when viewed on a standard display. On the Apple Vision Pro, your spatial videos will look their best, allowing you to experience them to the fullest.

By enabling more iPhone users to capture spatial video, Apple likely aims to increase interest in the Apple Vision Pro. Their strategy might extend beyond the current Vision Pro model, as future iterations are expected to include this fundamental feature.

It’s important to note that spatial videos lack a parallax effect. This means you can’t “move around” the image to view it from different angles. Since these videos are recorded with two fixed lenses, there’s no additional information available if you shift your perspective; all you’ll see is a skewed view.

Spatial Video Isn’t That Exciting (Yet)

The Apple Vision Pro isn’t the only headset capable of playing iPhone spatial videos. By using the iPhone Meta app, you can also view these videos on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3 headsets.

If you don’t own a compatible headset, you might be wondering what the excitement is about. It’s a valid question, and the answer isn’t straightforward.

Just as many smartphones were recording 4K video long before 4K displays became common, you might find yourself looking back at high-resolution videos captured on older, lower-quality devices. When the right technology finally arrives, you might simply think, “That’s interesting,” and move on.

Realistically, spatial video is likely to be even less impactful since it’s currently hard to see a future where most people pick up a headset of this nature. Who knows how we’ll feel about spatial videos and photos in five years?

Either way, if you don’t have a Vision Pro or similar headset, the real benefit of spatial video is going to be lost on you for now.