Talk about the new iPhone 17 has been buzzing, especially when it comes to changes in how the camera might look. There’s a lot of talk that Apple might change the camera from the usual triangle shape to a long, flat strip like on the Google Pixel 9. But, some say it’s still going to keep the triangle look, so it’s all a bit confusing.
The Big Camera Design Question
The main worry with this new camera design is what it might mean for making 3D videos for the Apple Vision Pro. Right now, the iPhone 15 Pro and all iPhone 16 models can do this.
What’s 3D Video?
3D video, or spatial video, lets you experience videos in a more real way, kind of like you’re there. It uses two cameras that work together to give you a sense of depth, just like your eyes do. This makes the video feel more lifelike because you can move your head and the scene moves with you.
How It Works Now
The current iPhones do this by having the cameras lined up vertically. This setup helps in capturing the video in the right way when you hold your phone sideways.
The Problem with a New Design
If the iPhone 17 Pro changes to a horizontal camera strip, it might not work as well for 3D videos. The cameras would be side by side instead of one on top of the other, which might mess up how we capture these videos. If this happens, only the cheaper iPhone models might keep this feature, or no iPhone 17 might have it at all if they all get the new design.
Could There Be a Fix?
There’s hope though. New tech like Gaussian splatting, which can make 3D models from different camera views, might help. This technology is already used by Niantic in apps where you can explore 3D spaces. Maybe Apple is working on something similar for videos, but we don’t know for sure yet.
What’s Next?
We’ll find out all the details when Apple reveals the iPhone 17, probably in September. Until then, it’s all just guesses and rumors about how they’ll handle this cool 3D video feature with their new camera design.