That black circle on your iPhone has a hidden secret – do you know what it does?
A TIKTOK tech guru has dispensed an interesting lesson about the curious black dot on the back of newer iPhone models.
In a recent video, user @phonerepairguru explained what the small circle located near the rear camera lenses actually does.
"It's not there for show," the influencer told his 4.2million TikTok followers. "It's called a Lidar sensor."
Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses a pulsed laser to measure distances.
It's used by mapping satellites to examine the surface of the Earth and by self-driving cars to keep tabs on their surroundings on the road.
Apple added a Lidar sensor to the iPad Pro 2020 and launched its first iPhones with the technology later that year.
It's now available on the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
It's used for a number of handy features that use augmented reality (AR), such as Apple's Measure app, which turns your device into a tape measure.
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Other AR apps let you turn your surroundings into an interactive game or try a piece of furniture before you buy it by virtually "placing" the object in a room.
To demonstrate what the technology is capable of, @phonerepairguru showed it in action through the third-party "3DScannerApp".
After recording his work desk through the sensor, the TikToker showed how the app was able to create a 3D map of the table.
You can use the app to show someone a three-dimensional space using your iPhone or even to take a scan that you can process using a 3D printer.
In future, Apple apparently plans to load its Lidar technology into a "mixed reality headset" rumoured for launch next year.
Apple has been reportedly working on virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality for years.
Rivals like Google, Microsoft, Samsung and Facebook have all released products in the sector.
But Apple has played its cards close to its chest, only bundling AR and VR features into the iPhone.
However, the firm has filed multiple patents for mixed reality headset technology, suggesting that something concrete is in the works.
Must-know iPhone trick stops ANYONE from bypassing your lockscreenIn other news, Apple has announced that it will let customers fix their own iPhones for the first time starting next year.
The UK is fighting an epidemic of hack attacks targeting consumers and businesses, according to officials.
NASA has slammed Russia after a missile it fired into one of its own satellites forced the space station to perform an emergency swerve.
And, a 75-year-old Brit has told of his anger after scammers on WhatsApp fooled him into sending them hundreds of pounds.
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