Updated

We're back updating this article with all the info you need on Apple's Photographic Styles and latest iPhone 14 range.

We headed here to tell you just how epic we thought LiDAR was on iPhone 12, way back in 2020.

Now we're back, after the release of the incredible iPhone 14 series.

You might think you’ve learnt everything you need to know about LiDAR from Apple, but we’re here to prove you wrong.

Of course, iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max come equipped with LiDAR, but there are a whole bunch of other additional features that we want to tell you about.

Get deeper with LiDAR.

The LiDAR scanner, on the iPhone 12, 13 and iPhone 14 series measures how long it takes light to reflect back from objects. This essentially creates a depth map of your surroundings.

It does this by firing a train of laser pulses at different parts of the scene in your shot to give a more detailed understanding of your surroundings.

In doing this, AR apps can work to transform the room you’re in into a majestic jungle with lots of animals or can show you how a fresh pair of trainers would look on your feet.

This fancy tech works alongside the all-impressive iOS 16 and creates lots of high-resolution data that spans the camera’s entire field of view, firing laser beams in seconds.

This delivers an improved range in your photography of up to five metres - and to put that into perspective, that’s bigger than your average-sized great white shark.

It changes the game for AR as it instantly understands the surfaces in your space, so AR apps that you know and love can get straight to work and deliver custom experiences.

Someone using AR on iPhone 12.
Get ready for the ultimate AR experience.

Whether you’re riding a rollercoaster or journeying through the desert, this tech will transport you to new places.

LiDAR takes it one step further and offers improved and advanced occlusion. This essentially means that it has more of an understanding of which objects are in front of others.

For example, if you’re playing an AR game and a character runs into your kitchen, they’ll accurately move around your table or dodge your washing machine so you can stay fully immersed.

LiDAR is perfect for those moments when the lighting isn’t quite on your side, too. It boasts six times faster autofocus in low light and makes Night mode portraits possible. The Neural Engine spots your photo subject and brings them into focus.

Introducing Photographic Styles.

Snapping great photos is one thing, but adding your own artistic twang is another. Photographic Styles were introduced on iPhone 13, and are available on Apple's iPhone SE and all four models of the new iPhone 14.

Styles are smart. They can boost or mute colours, all while keeping skin tones looking fresh and natural.

They’re the perfect camera feature for those who want to add a little personality to their shots. Sure, you could stick a whole bunch of filters on and be done with it, but you want it to look natural, right?

Unlike filters, Photographic Styles apply adjustments to the right areas – so the result is still realistic.

Vibrant makes photos bright and vivid, a solid choice for photos taken outside on a sunny day. Rich Contrast will make darker shadows and deeper colours.

A photo of a boy taken on iPhone 13 sat outside with his bike.
Bring your photos to life with photographic styles.

If you want to accentuate the undertones in your photos, Warm or Cool are the way to go. Warm is the best option for those golden undertones while Cool will bring to life blue undertones.

How does LiDAR measure up?

You may already be familiar with Apple’s measure app - and if you’re not, now is the perfect time to familiarise yourself with it. The app is aided by LiDAR, which has brought in some mega improvements.

The app is now faster to use, as the LiDAR scanner senses the surroundings and measures different objects much more easily.

Instead of just being an app used for rough measurements, LiDAR now makes it good enough to use to get straight-up accurate measurements.

Someone using the Measure app.
The Measure app has had a huge glow-up.

There’s no step-by-step guide on how to use it; your iPhone camera will automatically reap in the benefits of LiDAR, so you can get better photos in no time.

When you load up the Measure app, the tech will again be ready and waiting to go. You can kick back, enjoy the basics, and let your iPhone take care of the hard work.

Get in on the action.

If you’re a bit of an AR junkie and want to get in on all the LiDAR action, you’re in luck. We’ve got lots of incredible deals on the best from Apple.

If you order yours today, you can receive it as soon as tomorrow and start enjoying everything that it has to offer.