Apple continues to push the boundaries of what your iPhone can do. Last year, they introduced spatial video recording on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, allowing users to capture immersive clips that could be viewed on their Vision Pro headset. Now, with the iOS 18.1 beta 4 release, Apple is expanding that functionality to include spatial photos as well. This new feature is exciting, but like most things in tech, it comes with a few catches.

What’s Spatial Photo mode?

If you haven’t heard, spatial photos and videos are designed to be viewed in 3D. Apple’s Vision Pro, the much-anticipated augmented reality headset, can already display regular photos in 3D by adding depth. But with this dedicated spatial photo mode, you can expect even better, more immersive results, as it captures depth data more effectively.

So how do you access this new mode? iOS 18.1 beta 4 adds a fresh “Spatial Mode” tab to your iPhone’s Camera app. Once you’re in the tab, you can toggle between shooting spatial photos and spatial videos. There’s one small detail to remember: you have to hold your iPhone in landscape mode for it to work. This allows the rear lenses to capture the depth data needed to generate that 3D effect.

Not just for the Pros anymore

Previously, spatial capture was only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models, but that’s changing. With the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus ditching the old diagonal rear camera layout for a vertical design, these newer models can now shoot spatial photos and videos as well. This means that more people will have access to the feature, not just those who shell out for the Pro models.

And why is that important? Well, for now, the audience for spatial media is fairly niche—mostly limited to early adopters of the Vision Pro headset. But as more iPhones support spatial photos and videos, it’s likely the feature will gain traction among casual users.

What else is new in iOS 18.1 beta 4?

Aside from spatial photos, iOS 18.1 beta 4 brings a few other updates you might care about. Remember those video recordings you wished you could pause? Well, now you can. Plus, there are new watch faces for your Apple Watch, fresh off the iPhone 16 event.

While beta users are getting their hands on these features now, the rest of us won’t have to wait long. The full iOS 18.1 update (stable) is expected to roll out next month, bringing with it some major updates like phone call recording and transcribing. Apple is also dropping the first batch of their Apple Intelligence features, which could include everything from smarter autocorrect to predictive text that actually understands context.

The catch

To truly enjoy the spatial photos and videos, you’ll need an Apple Vision Pro headset, which isn’t exactly affordable. So, while it’s cool to be able to shoot in 3D on your iPhone, unless you’re planning on investing in the Vision Pro which costs $3,499, you might not get the full experience.

Still, Apple’s move to make spatial photography more accessible is a clear indication of where they’re headed. They’re betting big on immersive media, and it might just be the future of how we capture and share moments. Whether you’re ready for it or not, spatial photos are here—and they’re only going to get better.