iOS 18 Allows Third-Party Apps to Offer Spatial Video Recording on iPhone 15 Pro - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 18 Allows Third-Party Apps to Offer Spatial Video Recording on iPhone 15 Pro

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models running iOS 17.2 or later can record spatial video with 3D depth for playback on Apple's Vision Pro headset. While spatial video recording has been limited to Apple's built-in Camera app until this point, third-party camera apps on the App Store can also offer this functionality starting on iOS 18.

spatial video iphone 15 pro
In a WWDC 2024 coding session last week, Apple revealed that it has released an API that allows developers to offer spatial video recording in any app. Apple said the API is built into existing camera-related frameworks, making it easy to implement.

When held in landscape orientation, the iPhone 15 Pro's main and ultra wide cameras combine to record spatial video. In addition to the iPhone 16 Pro models, it is likely that spatial video recording will be expanded to the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, as the rear cameras on those devices are rumored to be vertically aligned.

You will need a Vision Pro to see the added depth in spatial videos, as they appear in a normal 2D format when played on an iPhone.

iOS 18 is currently in beta, and it should be released in September.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 13, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes two weeks after Apple released the first betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word ...
Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta

New Book Details Vision Pro's Troubled Launch in Apple Stores

Tuesday April 7, 2026 5:57 am PDT by
A new book by New York Times labor reporter Noam Scheiber argues that Apple's decade-long erosion of its retail workforce directly contributed to the disappointing launch of the Apple Vision Pro in early 2024 (via WIRED). The book, Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class, draws on interviews with Apple Store employees to document how staffing cuts, reduced training, ...
steam link%402x

Valve's Steam Link App Is Coming to Apple Vision Pro

Monday April 13, 2026 6:14 am PDT by
Valve's Steam Link app, which is designed to let you stream games from your main gaming computer to another device, is coming to Apple Vision Pro. The upcoming app for visionOS means users will be able to wirelessly stream games from Steam running on their Mac or PC to their Vision Pro headset, assuming the devices are on the same local network. Prior to its official release, Valve is...

Top Rated Comments

Radeon85 Avatar
25 months ago
Best thing about spatial video is that it forces people to record properly in landscape mode. Wish Apple forced that with the built in camera app for regular video.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macbeth1026 Avatar
25 months ago
*Vision Pro or other VR headsets.

With a quick conversion I've been able to view spatial videos on my Quest 2 with ease.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
25 months ago
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spatialify/id6471922894
I use this app to capture and manipulate spatial videos and PHOTOS to be viewed on an old 3D display ;)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fatTribble Avatar
25 months ago

Best thing about spatial video is that it forces people to record properly in landscape mode. Wish Apple forced that with the built in camera app for regular video.
But I need portrait videos to record my Vegas slot machine wins! 😳
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrENGLISH Avatar
25 months ago

*Vision Pro or other VR headsets.

With a quick conversion I've been able to view spatial videos on my Quest 2 with ease.

That's very interesting, how did you manage to convert them? What about spatial photo?
Quest 2 (and 3) natively supports spatial videos since firmware v62.

https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/in-vr-experiences/oculus-apps/spatial-video/
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaveN Avatar
25 months ago
Ever since I was a kid and used the old Viewmaster system, I’ve enjoyed 3d content. For some reason I didn’t get much out of 3d on TVs (apparently neither did most people as that faded quickly) but I do enjoy 3d content on my Quest headset and am thinking about getting an AppleVision headset to see their implementation. It really is a cool way to visit places.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)