Apple is quietly giving iPhones a nifty holographic effect-and it's our best look yet at where the company is headed next
Briefly

iOS 26 features a major overhaul with a liquid glass interface and introduces 'Spatial Scenes,' enabling users to transform 2D photos into interactive 3D visuals. This feature can be applied to any recent iPhone's lock screen, providing an engaging experience for users. Apple envisions iPhones as gateways for spatial, augmented reality experiences. The foundation for this technology began with advancements in camera systems, starting from the iPhone 7 Plus and evolving through features like LiDAR sensors and an improved Neural Engine, paving the way for significant AR integrations.
iOS 26 introduces an extensive design redesign and offers a feature called 'Spatial Scenes,' which adds a 3D effect to almost any 2D photo by creating a hologram-like appearance.
The ability to create Spatial Scenes will resonate especially during family gatherings as users can apply 3D effects from photos to their lock screens, enhancing personal interactions.
The feature is grounded in Apple's long-term vision for augmented reality, which aims for digital interactions to become spatial and integrated with real-world experiences.
Apple's journey towards AR began with the introduction of Portrait Mode, evolving through improvements to camera technology and the Neural Engine, leading to the innovative capabilities present in iOS 26.
Read at Fortune
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