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Future 'iPhone Ultra' Model Could Capture Spatial Photos and Videos for Vision Pro Headset

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A future "iPhone Ultra" model could capture spatial photos and videos to be displayed in Apple's Vision Pro headset, according to a rumor shared by a Weibo account with a proven track record for disclosing accurate information about Apple's plans.

iPhone-Ultra-in-Hand-Feature.jpg

The camera configuration of a future "iPhone Ultra" model released after the launch of the Vision Pro headset will reportedly "lead the market to rethink what kind of photos and videos a mobile phone should take." It seems highly likely that the information refers to the capture of spatial photos and videos, a unique feature of the Vision Pro that uses outward-facing cameras to record immersive 3D content.

Spatial videos and photos are designed to have "incredible depth," according to Apple, allowing the user to "see into a moment." Apple says that the feature is designed to allow users to relive their memories like never before. From Apple's press release announcing the Vision Pro headset:
Featuring Apple's first three-dimensional camera, Apple Vision Pro lets users capture, relive, and immerse themselves in favorite memories with Spatial Audio. Every spatial photo and video transports users back to a moment in time, like a celebration with friends or a special family gathering. Users can access their entire photo library on iCloud, and view their photos and videos at a life-size scale with brilliant color and spectacular detail.
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Standard photos and videos from an iPhone or another device can still be viewed on the headset, but the 3D images and videos are considerably more immersive and can only be captured using a Vision Pro itself. The feature is so central to the Vision Pro experience that the device has a dedicated mechanical button on the top to activate it.

vision-pro-3d-video.jpg
Spatial video playback in visionOS.​


In light of the latest rumor, it seems possible that this "three-dimensional camera" could be headed to the iPhone, likely adding further hardware to the existing rear camera configuration that consists of a main wide camera, telephoto camera, ultra wide camera, LiDAR scanner, and Adaptive True Tone flash. The Weibo user cautioned that additional information about the new iPhone capability is currently incomplete, suggesting that there may be more to follow.

It is also worth noting that the "iPhone Ultra" moniker has been frequently used across Chinese social media platforms when discussing a future "Pro Max" model following rumors that Apple was planning to rename the device earlier this year. The change is no longer expected to occur this year, but according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple could release a new high-end device called the "iPhone Ultra," sitting above the "Pro Max" in the lineup, as soon as next year. The Apple Vision Pro headset is set to launch in early 2024.

Article Link: Future 'iPhone Ultra' Model Could Capture Spatial Photos and Videos for Vision Pro Headset
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/09/04/future-iphone-could-capture-spatial-photos-videos/
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dante_mr

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Jun 13, 2023
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Premium1 said:
Aka the camera bump is going to get even larger to make room for this new lens. At this point, might as well just make the whole back the camera like the old Windows Phones.
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Since this rumored iPhone Ultra is meant to capture 3D videos and photos, the lens itself might not be bigger. Instead, we would have to have 2 cameras setups spaced apart to capture in 3D.

Unless Apple figures out a software-side implementation with a single lens solution.
 
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dante_mr

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Jun 13, 2023
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lenningj said:
with the rumored 1TB default storage for the vision pro, how big could each spatial photo be, filesize. Maximum of 30 minutes recording to fill 1TB on the Ultra
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No info yet on file size but yeah it must be huge.

I really hope the 1TB default rumor is true. But based on the Bill of Materials leak a few months back, the list mentioned a 512GB storage module not 1TB. So there's a chance Apple does their usual thing and start at 512 with a paid upgrade to 1TB.

It technically would make the Vision Pro match the MacBook Pro lineup that also starts at 512GB default (not counting the old MBP 13).

Edit: link to BOM Reddit thread (note how this was months before WWDC and nothing in Apple's announcement contradicts the BOM leak--at least not yet, so this might be accurate. But I see a mention of an internal battery which is a bit strange).
 
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Torty

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alaman64 said:
Should be possible but the cameras should be 65mm apart (average eye distance) from each other to capture true depth, so that would entail a second bump to the left of the first one.
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I think you can do a lot in SW with 48MP sensors.
 
zach-coleman

zach-coleman

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This felt like an obvious path to take. Who would want to lug the entire headset around just to use like a camcorder? I wonder if the iPhone camera will become a bar like it is on the Pixel when they have to add this additional hardware...

I hope the rumor that the PM and the Ultra are different models aren't true. It would suck to have an entire new tier of devices with exclusive features locked behind a body I find extremely oversized.
 
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Contact_Feanor

Contact_Feanor

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alaman64 said:
Should be possible but the cameras should be 65mm apart (average eye distance) from each other to capture true depth, so that would entail a second bump to the left of the first one.
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Doesn't the distance between the camera's to provide natural-looking depth to our eyes depend on the focal length of the lenses? Otherwise you can get the "this looks like a miniature/this looks giant" effect. they need to be 65mm apart when you're using a focal length of the lens is 22mm. At least, that's what I thought...
 
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triton100

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this could be a killer feature. If the 3d is as jaw dropping as some people have said. But if there’s slow uptake on the glasses together with limited output from Apple then it makes no difference as there won’t be mass adoption for people to use it but you never know
 
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jz0309

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so an iPhone Ultra, rumored at $1500, will be a companion to a vision pro starting at $3499 ... and here on MR I was made to believe that VP will make the iPhone obsolete ...
 
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wanha

wanha

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I admit that I am excited for the new era of spatial computing and all the new functionality and innovation it will unlock (like touch screens before it).

That said, I do worry how Apple - like all companies - continues to drift further and further upmarket and out of the price range of many regular people, as this may open them up for a disruption down the line.
 
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