iPhone 17 Camera Redesign Rumors Conflict on Spatial Video Support

Rumors about Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series have so far sparked a good deal of discussion regarding a potential redesign of the rear camera module. Leaks suggest the cosmetic changes could be big, but whether they would impact the iPhone camera's existing capabilities is a question for which no-one has yet provided an adequate answer.

iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal Single Feature

The Camera Redesign Rumor Problem

Several rumors suggest that for the iPhone 17 Pro models, Apple may transition from its traditional triangular lens arrangement to a horizontal, elongated bar or strip of lenses, similar to the one used on the Google Pixel 9. However, we've had conflicting information, with at least one source claiming that the iPhone 17 Pro models will retain the existing triangular configuration amidst broader material redesigns of the rear casing.

iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1
The major point of concern with adopting a horizontal camera layout is its potential impact on the device's ability to capture spatial video for Apple Vision Pro — a feature currently supported by iPhone 15 Pro devices and all iPhone 16 models.

What Is Spatial Video?

Spatial video is an immersive video format that provides a more three-dimensional experience by capturing content from multiple perspectives. The technology allows viewers wearing Apple Vision Pro to feel as if they're present in the environment being filmed, offering a significant enhancement over traditional 2D video formats.

spatial video apple visioin pro
The shooting mode requires two cameras to record footage simultaneously when the iPhone is held in a landscape orientation, where the horizontal separation between lenses is crucial for them to mimic the distance between human eyes and create depth perception. Unlike standard 3D video that presents a static perspective, spatial video in this way creates six degrees of freedom, so that if the viewer shifts their position, the perspective in the video footage also shifts accordingly.

On iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models, spatial video is achieved by using the vertically aligned main Wide/Fusion and Ultra Wide cameras to capture these differing perspectives. Similarly, Apple adopted a vertical alignment design for the dual-lens rear cameras on the standard iPhone 16 models as a strategic move to allow for spatial video capture.

spatial video iphone 15 pro
Logic would therefore seem to dictate that if the iPhone 17 Pro models were to adopt the rumored elongated horizontal bar of lenses, they would no longer be capable of shooting spatial video in landscape orientation – in the process losing a core camera functionality that has been present in their predecessors for two generations. Conversely, were the non-Pro models to retain the vertical alignment of the two lenses currently used in the iPhone 16, spatial capture would become incongruously exclusive to Apple's more affordable flagship device.

On the other hand, if the standard iPhone 17 also adopted the elongated horizontal bar design, then no model in the series would be capable of spatial video. (Rumors suggest the same can already be said for the Plus-replacing "iPhone 17 Air," which allegedly features just a single camera lens).

Apple iPhone 15 Pro spatial video capture lifestyle
Would Apple really be prepared to nix its spatial video capability from some, if not all, iPhone 17 models – a feature that it has spent so much research and development (not to mention marketing) in order to bring to iPhones? Many would suggest that none of these scenarios are likely.

Overcoming Spatial Technical Challenges

There is another possibility, however. Recent advancements in computational photography may have opened avenues for creating spatial videos without the existing strict hardware constraints. For example, Gaussian splatting, which was invented less than two years ago, can generate photorealistic 3D models using data from multiple camera angles, even when using non-traditional camera arrangements.

scaniverse
Niantic, a company with close ties to Google, has already been leveraging Gaussian splatting in its Scaniverse app to create photorealistic 3D models. Not only that, Niantic's WebXR app "Into the Scaniverse" for the Meta Quest headset allows users to step inside the splats they have captured in Scaniverse and walk around.

Could Apple be developing something akin to Guassian splatting for video – similar to its visionOS 2 feature that uses advanced machine learning to transform a 2D image into a spatial photo which then comes to life when viewed on Vision Pro?

spatial photo visionos 2
Of course, whether or not Apple is adopting something similar is anyone's guess at this point. Equally, there's no reason to believe one way or the other that Apple has developed its own, alternative solution that accommodates a "runway" style camera module redesign. The only thing we do know is that we'll learn everything when Apple announces the iPhone 17 series around its usual mid-September time frame.

Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air

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Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
12 weeks ago
What if... behind the scenes and with future plans...

Apple is backing away from Spatial Video and VisionOS and VisionPro?






just saying ... it is possible
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
12 weeks ago

I get that a lot of people shoot video in portrait, and if watched on a phone, that kinda works.
How does that look on a TV screen?
How does that look on an imax screen?

Video for pro and TV consumption will be 99+% landscape.
If Apple made the camera lens layout like this you could get spatial video in both portrait and landscape orientation




but this might be too much innovation for Apple to pull off.

Attachment Image
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
12 weeks ago
Spatial capture can easily be IMPROVED with the bar style adoption by being able to spread the 2 lenses that capture it to average eye width (not doable in the triangle unless the triangle spreads out larger) and then spatial video (landscape) is captured while holding the phone in portrait mode (as it seems most the world already does). Instead of ending up with portrait video shot holding the phone in portrait, it captures landscape view... or landscape spatial.

But what if someone wants portrait video captures? IMO, make this a "choose" screen where user is presented with visual representations of portrait vs. landscape video captures on a destination screen. Then they can choose if they want "skinny" (portrait) video with big black boxes left & right when viewed on widescreens like monitors & TVs or do they want those destination screens filled edge to edge?

And when they play video back on the phone or tablet, the playback will fill the screen however they are holding it. If they shot portrait, it fills the screen as it does now. If they shot landscape, it starts playing back "sideways" prompting them to naturally rotate the phone to see it as captured.

If Apple made this change, the seemingly larger world who are programmed to shoot pictures & videos with phone held portrait could keep doing what they do... though now choosing how they want the capture done based on the ultimate viewer tech for the picture or video. The rest of us who understand to rotate the phone would be the ones who have to adapt but we seem more likely to adapt our ways... than expecting the bigger crowd to evolve theirs.

The lone negative is the perception of the virtual "viewfinder" would be smaller when capturing landscape because the phone is not held sideways... but that would be a compromise to accept to get the broader(?) benefit of most people capturing video as they will ultimately want to watch it instead of capturing so much portrait and then griping that it doesn't fill their TV screens later. Watch the evening news and video shot by people there will almost always be portrait captures. Watch sports and when they pan the crowd, see that almost everyone capturing the game will be capturing it in portrait.

End result would likely be MUCH LESS portrait video captures by the masses because they would now be choosing how they want it to look where they want to ultimately watch it.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jumpthesnark Avatar
12 weeks ago
Shorter MR: "We've published a lot of rumors about a thing but they conflict. We can't know what Apple will do. So here's a story that says that and adds a lot of fluff to make it seem like a story worth reading."

Well it got me to comment, along with everyone else here, so I guess this business model works.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
citysnaps Avatar
12 weeks ago
Apple has a lot of very experienced and intelligent systems/design engineers with an outstanding track record. Don't sell them short with respect to solving problems.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
12 weeks ago
Just under 8 more months to find out … oh, the suspense …
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)