A little-known feature in iOS 26 is called "Spatial Scenes." Imagine your old photos, taken twenty years ago, coming to life and transforming into 3D scenes that move in the palm of your hand! Yes, you no longer need a special camera or expensive glasses; all you need is a compatible iPhone and a few simple taps to turn your flat memories into a window into reality.
What is the Spatial Scenes feature and how does it work?
Simply put, this feature differs slightly from the "Spatial Photos" feature of Apple's Vision Pro. While Spatial Photos appear as regular images on a standard iPhone screen, Spatial Scenes provides a direct 3D effect on your screen. The technology uses artificial intelligence to fill in the perspective angles of the image, allowing you to tilt your phone and see the background move seamlessly with you.
However, it's worth noting that in some portrait photos, you might notice a diorama-like effect, where people or animals appear as flat cartoon cutouts within a 3D scene. It seems Apple is trying to avoid falling into the "Uncanny Valley" by not over-detailing facial features, which is a smart move as usual.
Requirements: Is your phone future-ready?
To enjoy this magic, you must first update your device to iOS 26. The update is available via Settings > General > Software Update. This system supports iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later models, but wait before you get too excited!
Creating these spatial scenes requires specialized processing capabilities, so it's limited to iPhone 12 or later models. Therefore, if you're still using an iPhone 11, it might be time to consider upgrading to experience the 3D world.
How to convert any image into a spatial scene
After the update, open the Photos app and select any image you like. You'll find a small gray hexagon icon in the top right corner (next to the More button). Once you tap it, you'll see a wave of color sweep across the image, and in moments, it will transform into a spatial scene. You can now shake your phone left and right to see how the perspective changes dramatically before your eyes.
Stunning and vibrant lock screen background
The most exciting part is the ability to set these scenes as your lock screen wallpaper. Using the share button, select “Use as wallpaper.” In the preview screen, make sure the hexagonal icon for “Spatial Capture” is enabled.
One important note: The Spatial Scenes feature on the lock screen currently doesn't support manual image resizing (pinch to resize). Therefore, to avoid your image interfering with the clock, it's best to choose photos where the main elements are positioned at the bottom. Landscapes and cityscapes work perfectly in this regard and make your screen look like a real window.
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