Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Models to Feature Improved LiDAR Scanner

[Cromulent]

Had chatgpt do it for you
TLDR Version:
A LiDAR scanner is a tool that uses lasers to make a picture of things far away by bouncing the lasers off of them and measuring how long it takes for them to come back. Scientists and engineers use it to learn more about the world around us.

Long version:
Hello there! Do you like playing with toys that go "beep" and "boop"? Well, a LiDAR scanner is kind of like a toy that helps us see things far away!

A LiDAR scanner is a special device that sends out a bunch of little laser beams (kind of like tiny flashlights) and they bounce off of things like trees, buildings, and even people.
When the laser beams bounce back to the LiDAR scanner, it measures how long it took for the beam to go out and come back. That's called "time of flight" - like how long it takes you to run to one end of a room and then back to where you started.

The LiDAR scanner then uses all of that information to create a really detailed 3D picture of everything it can "see" with its laser beams. It's kind of like taking a really fancy picture, but instead of using a camera, we're using lasers!

Scientists and engineers use LiDAR scanners to study all sorts of things like mapping the terrain of the Earth or measuring how much ice is melting in the Arctic. So, you can think of a LiDAR scanner as a really cool tool that helps us learn more about the world around us!

It allows your iPhone Pro, iPad Pro or Apple Reality Pro headset to see the world in 3D (as opposed to flat like a picture) by shooting lasers at things and measuring the time it takes for the lasers to bounce back.

Awesome! Thank you both.

 

[techpr]

LiDAR on the Pro models are the foundation of future AR products that we all will use every day to interact with people and the whole world.

 

[jimbobb24]

For those that don't see any use - install Polycam and play with it for 5 min. Anyone that does any sort of home renovation, real estate agents, inspectors, home repair - It can be a game changer for them.

I can build a floor-plan for a 4k sq ft home in a matter of 20 min. With or without furnishings, and including windows and doors. It's wild!

The problem is had is the resolution is poor and modern computational video and photos can get almost all the same information in higher resolution. Although I do know a group replacing a $50k medical device with 2 LiDAR enabled iPhones and some software.

 

[jimbobb24]

I think with all the LiDAR enabled iPhones apple could map the entire ground level and interior of all major cities in a few weeks. Just ask people to turn on an app and walk around and then use GPS and software to stitch it all together.

 

[vegetassj4]

"Sony will replace Lumentum and WIN Semi as the exclusive supplier of LiDAR Scanner components"

The iPhone Pro Max, with an improved kit. Sony ROOTkit

 

[MrRom92]

Is it possible that someone could use the LIDAR sensor to make a rangefinder app? For example, use the camera as a viewfinder, focus on a point and get the distance? This could be very helpful for photographers using viewfinder cameras without a coupled rangefinder

 

[DarthDon]

looking how big that cam will be let me think how thick the cover will be as well. it makes no sense to me. why don't they use the space not right away for battery? it hasn't to be so thin and light.

 

[Havoc035]

iPhone 15 Pro is shaping up to be an interesting upgrade. Let's see if Apple can indeed deliver.

 

[Allahu Akbar]

iPhone 11 Pro Max has the best close up camera of all iPhones I have owned.
iPhone 12 Pro Max sucks, you can't focus up close.
iPhone 13 Pro Max is little better than 12 but worse than 11.
iPhone 14 Pro Max has over all the best camera, with the macro but 11 Pro Max still better in normal close up focus.
I don't know it this is related to Lidar or not.

That's just my five cents.

 

[HVDynamo]

I think people underestimate the role LiDAR plays on image quality. Being able to sense the distance of objects allows the camera to focus more accurately.

The measure app is also surprisingly accurate.

Yeah, this is a good point. People are using it, it's just behind the scenes doing it's thing and you don't notice it very easily.

 

[mrr]

How about support for the Apple Pencil?

 

[Mizhou]

Can someone explain what the LIDAR scanner actually does to me, like I'm 5?

Here are a couple of videos from WWDC 2021 and 2022 that shows what you can do with Lidar and other things.

WWDC21 - Videos - Apple Developer

developer.apple.com

Discover advancements in iOS camera capture: Depth, focus, and multitasking - WWDC22 - Videos - Apple Developer

Discover how you can take advantage of advanced camera capture features in your app. We'll show you how to use the LiDAR scanner to...

developer.apple.com

Since this is a conference for developers, there is quite a lot of talk about programming and technical stuff, but in many videos there are also some awesome demos.

 

[anthogag]

Scanning objects, people, and spaces using LIDAR should be a native iOS feature in Camera. If I get closer to an object the scan should become more detailed. Scanning a room could have a LIDAR 'panorama' function; LIDArama.

 

[Unami]

Is it possible that someone could use the LIDAR sensor to make a rangefinder app? For example, use the camera as a viewfinder, focus on a point and get the distance? This could be very helpful for photographers using viewfinder cameras without a coupled rangefinder

I believe, at the moment the iphone's lidar sensor doesn't cover a lot of distance - but I just googled it and there's an app called "lidar pointer" that shows the distance to anything you point it at.

 

[the 12th Doctor]

I am concerned with iPhone rumors in February. Are they going to break the cycle and go back to June announcements and July releases? Doubt it, but still.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Who cares.

It's just an excuse for Apple to increase the size of the camera bump which is completely out of hand.

Nah. Just save your money and do not buy the new iPhone models. There will still be enough folks like me left happily buying any size camera bump if it improves the already-excellent image captures even a little.

But do stop whining about something you fail to understand and need not buy.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

looking how big that cam will be let me think how thick the cover will be as well. it makes no sense to me. why don't they use the space not right away for battery? it hasn't to be so thin and light.

Some of us (me) think Apple has been getting the battery/weight/size balance about right. IMO folks who need more can add battery storage devices.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

This is actually a current problem with the iphone 14 pro, focus sucks balls and the camera settings is a completely different story. It takes a good 30 seconds for it to focus on my iphone and this is my second one I got replaced that still has the same issues.

I went from the 12 pro to the 14 pro and I can agree that the focus was instant on the 12, never had issues at all but the 14 is something else entirely.

Your 14 Pro obtains far larger more complex image captures than the 12 Pro does, and in photography there is almost never a free lunch. Just try learning the camera settings and using more care taking pix.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

LiDAR is probably long play tech, as is the case with others from Apple — it fits into a long term vision that isn’t quite realized yet. I imagine that the XR project will play some part in utilizing it, and that will become clear later this year.

 

[MrRom92]

I believe, at the moment the iphone's lidar sensor doesn't cover a lot of distance - but I just googled it and there's an app called "lidar pointer" that shows the distance to anything you point it at.

Sweet, I’ll check it out - thanks for the tip! I’ll check it against a calibrated rangefinder. This would be most useful for anything I guess up to 20ft out, and even more useful at closer distances than that. Beyond that you can pretty much focus at infinity and call it good anyway.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Sweet, I’ll check it out - thanks for the tip! I’ll check it against a calibrated rangefinder. This would be most useful for anything I guess up to 20ft out, and even more useful at closer distances than that. Beyond that you can pretty much focus at infinity and call it good anyway.

Actually, more precise distance info can improve pix by not pretty much focusing at infinity and calling it good.

 

[mw360]

Had chatgpt do it for you
TLDR Version:
A LiDAR scanner is a tool that uses lasers to make a picture of things far away by bouncing the lasers off of them and measuring how long it takes for them to come back. Scientists and engineers use it to learn more about the world around us.

Long version:
Hello there! Do you like playing with toys that go "beep" and "boop"? Well, a LiDAR scanner is kind of like a toy that helps us see things far away!

A LiDAR scanner is a special device that sends out a bunch of little laser beams (kind of like tiny flashlights) and they bounce off of things like trees, buildings, and even people.
When the laser beams bounce back to the LiDAR scanner, it measures how long it took for the beam to go out and come back. That's called "time of flight" - like how long it takes you to run to one end of a room and then back to where you started.

The LiDAR scanner then uses all of that information to create a really detailed 3D picture of everything it can "see" with its laser beams. It's kind of like taking a really fancy picture, but instead of using a camera, we're using lasers!

Scientists and engineers use LiDAR scanners to study all sorts of things like mapping the terrain of the Earth or measuring how much ice is melting in the Arctic. So, you can think of a LiDAR scanner as a really cool tool that helps us learn more about the world around us!

Wow, that could have been scraped directly from Gizmodo

 

[RV5595]

Can we just take a moment and appreciate the sheer insanity of technology these phone have? How small is the LiDAR sensor is - if you recall the first DARPA challenge with SUVs covered in rotating sensors. What’s the difference in time at the speed of light going six feet out and back to focus a lens or that a battery powered handheld device with no external antenna can communicate two-way with a satellite?

 

[MrRom92]

Actually, more precise distance info can improve pix by not pretty much focusing at infinity and calling it good.

Sure but I think the point was that the app probably doesn’t work at great distances, and after a certain point when all you have is a distance scale on the lens, that’s all you can do anyway

 

[t0rqx]

Again. This is such an underrated feature, it is super useful. I am not even sure if the majority even knows it is there and it is capable of.