iPhone 12 Pro LiDAR Scanner Allows For More Powerful Snapchat Lenses

A14 Bionic and ARKit combine to offer more realistic AR experiences.

Yesterday, Apple revealed four new iPhone 12 models as part of its remote “Hi, Speed” live event. This includes the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, all of which capable of supporting ultra-fast 5G mobile networks.

In addition to the new designs and ultra-durable “Ceramic Shield” glass covers, the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max also feature cutting-edge LiDAR Scanners capable of delivering more realistic AR experiences.

In celebration of the new possibilities presented by this technology, Snap has released an updated version of its official creator tool, Lens Studio, allowing creators to harness the power of LiDAR to create the next generation of Snap Lenses. Update 3.2 uses the Snapchat camera to generate a mesh scale capable of identifying surfaces, objects, and the geometry of your environment, resulting in more realistic interactions between virtual content and the physical world.

Credit: Apple

Update 3.2 also introduces a new interactive preview mode that lets you test your Lenses in real-time without the iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max. The latest iPad Pro will also feature support for LiDAR-powered Lenses.

“The addition of the LiDAR Scanner to iPhone 12 Pro models enables a new level of creativity for augmented reality,” said Eitan Pilipski, Snap’s SVP of Camera Platform, in an official release. “We’re excited to collaborate with Apple to bring this sophisticated technology to our Lens Creator community.”  

Credit: Snap Inc.

Lens Studio 3.2 is free to download on Windows and Mac. For help getting started check out these official LiDAR Enabled Templates.

Feature Image Credit: Snap Inc.

Former Writer (Kyle Melnick):
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