iOS 26 Allows Cinematic Mode Video Recording in Third-Party Apps

Apple is making Cinematic mode video capture available beyond its Camera app on the iPhone.

Cinematic Mode iPhone Feature
In a WWDC 2025 session earlier this month, Apple introduced a new API that allows developers of third-party camera apps like Kino and Filmic Pro to offer Cinematic mode video recording capabilities in their apps, if they choose to implement it.

Apple introduced Cinematic mode on iOS 15, and it is available on all iPhone 13 models and newer. Inspired by Hollywood films, the mode allows users to record video with a shallow depth of field and automatic focus changes between subjects.

Cinematic mode uses a technique called "rack focus" to seamlessly shift the focus from one subject to another. It does this by locking the focus on the subject in a scene and blurring the background to achieve depth of field. If you subsequently move the camera to center on a new subject, or a new subject enters the scene, Cinematic mode automatically switches the focal point to this new subject and blurs out the background.

Since iOS 17, Apple has allowed Cinematic mode video playback and editing in third-party apps, but the videos had to be recorded in the Camera app first. Now, camera apps on the App Store can offer an all-in-one Cinematic mode recording and editing experience, if they wish to. Watch the session below for more details.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
Prime Day 25 Feature Warm Triad

The Best Prime Day Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Monday July 7, 2025 10:55 am PDT by
Amazon Prime Day is currently in its second day, and this year the event will last for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront. With the event now underway, we're tracking numerous all-time low prices on Apple gear right now. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon....

Top Rated Comments

e1me5 Avatar
3 weeks ago

OK. Deep focus used to be considered Cinematic, now there's an assumption that shallow depth of field is. Well, it is on phones, where you have to keep the viewers eyes on the right part of a small screen, but "Cinematic" is what the filmmaker says it is.
Shallow depth of field is a fundamental part of what is considered a cinematic image as it comes natural due to the physics involved in capturing light using the large surface area of film and later on digital sensors in use to film films for the big screen the last century and afterwards high end tv. It is what sets it apart from regular tv programs that use small sensors for recording. During the last 15 years or so, due to the advancement of technology it became increasingly easier to obtain such a look as small low cost cameras with equivalent sized sensors became available to use for filming but as mobile phones lack the sensor size for this effect to come in natural they emulate it with computational photography methods.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ShadowontheSun Avatar
3 weeks ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/21/ios-26-expands-cinematic-mode-recording/')

Apple is making Cinematic mode video capture available beyond its Camera app on the iPhone.



In a WWDC 2025 session ('https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2025/319/') earlier this month, Apple introduced a new API that allows developers of third-party camera apps like Kino ('https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kino-pro-video-camera/id6472380172') and Filmic Pro ('https://apps.apple.com/us/app/filmic-pro-video-camera/id436577167') to offer Cinematic mode video recording capabilities in their apps, if they choose to implement it.

Apple introduced Cinematic mode on iOS 15, and it is available on all iPhone 13 models and newer. Inspired by Hollywood films, the mode allows users to record video with a shallow depth of field and automatic focus changes between subjects.

Cinematic mode uses a technique called "rack focus" to seamlessly shift the focus from one subject to another. It does this by locking the focus on the subject in a scene and blurring the background to achieve depth of field. If you subsequently move the camera to center on a new subject, or a new subject enters the scene, Cinematic mode automatically switches the focal point to this new subject and blurs out the background.

Since iOS 17, Apple has allowed Cinematic mode video playback and editing ('https://www.macrumors.com/2023/06/15/ios-17-cinematic-mode-third-party-apps/') in third-party apps, but the videos had to be recorded in the Camera app first. Now, camera apps on the App Store can offer an all-in-one Cinematic mode recording and editing experience, if they wish to. Watch the session below for more details.




Article Link: iOS 26 Allows Cinematic Mode Video Recording in Third-Party Apps ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/21/ios-26-expands-cinematic-mode-recording/')
If the black magic app adds this AND its possible to shoot cinematic mode in log, I will be a very happy camper.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
2 weeks ago
Good to see Apple opening it up. Think for sure 3rd party apps will be supporting it soon.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
uacd Avatar
2 weeks ago

Shallow depth of field is a fundamental part of what is considered a cinematic image as it comes natural due to the physics involved in capturing light using the large surface area of film and later on digital sensors in use to film films for the big screen the last century and afterwards high end tv. It is what sets it apart from regular tv programs that use small sensors for recording. During the last 15 years or so, due to the advancement of technology it became increasingly easier to obtain such a look as small low cost cameras with equivalent sized sensors became available to use for filming but as mobile phones lack the sensor size for this effect to come in natural they emulate it with computational photography methods.
It doesn’t really depend on sensor size but more on the lens design. Apple can introduce better lens for natural DoF, but I am not sure whether users will like it or not, maybe they are omitting it because they don’t want to have users complaining about “blurred images”.

Nevertheless I would love better optics on iPhone. No computations will ever replace natural lens blur imo
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
filmantopia Avatar
2 weeks ago
I’d love to see this feature get a fidelity upgrade in the future, to look and function more realistically like shallow lens depth. It’s pretty good now for personal video and social stuff, but for more professional use it doesn’t hit the mark.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
e1me5 Avatar
2 weeks ago

It doesn’t really depend on sensor size but more on the lens design. Apple can introduce better lens for natural DoF, but I am not sure whether users will like it or not, maybe they are omitting it because they don’t want to have users complaining about “blurred images”.

Nevertheless I would love better optics on iPhone. No computations will ever replace natural lens blur imo
The bigger the sensor size, the more obvious is the shallow depth is, when all things are equal, like field of view and distance from the subject. The lens design can give a distinctive look to the out of focus parts but doesn't affect the way light rays are or not focused.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)