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Depth camera's on Apple iPad and iPhone Pro models

Apple uses both depth cameras and LiDAR in different products, and while they sound similar (both measure distance), they work in different ways and are suited for different use cases.
TrueDepth = short range, detailed face/hand depth → Face ID & AR effects.
LiDAR = room-scale, larger depth sensing → AR, scanning, 3D modeling.

You can think of it like this:

  • Depth camera = microscope for your face 👤

  • LiDAR = flashlight that measures the whole room 🌌

Depth Camera
(TrueDepth system – e.g. Face ID on iPhone/iPad)

  • How it works:

    • Uses infrared (IR) structured light.

    • The projector shines ~30,000 tiny IR dots on your face.

    • An IR camera captures how those dots are distorted by the 3D shape of your face.

    • Software reconstructs a depth map.

  • Range: Short — typically 0.3 to ~1 meter, optimized for faces and selfies.

  • Use cases on Apple devices:

    • Face ID (unlocking and Apple Pay).

    • Animoji / Memoji face tracking.

    • Portrait selfies with depth.

    • AR effects at arm’s length.

  • Strengths:

    • Very accurate at close range.

    • Compact — fits in the notch of iPhones/iPads.

    • Works in total darkness (IR).

  • Limitations:

    • Not designed for room-scale scanning.

    • Limited depth resolution past ~1m.

LiDAR Scanner
(on iPad Pro, iPhone Pro models since 2020)

  • How it works:

    • Uses time-of-flight LiDAR.

    • Shoots pulses of infrared laser light.

    • Measures how long they take to return → direct distance measurement.

  • Range: Much longer — up to ~5 meters indoors.

  • Use cases on Apple devices:

    • Room and object scanning.

    • AR apps that need instant, accurate scene mapping.

    • Faster autofocus in low light (because it knows the distance to objects).

    • 3D scanning (e.g., for art, furniture, architecture).

  • Strengths:

    • Works at room scale.

    • Very fast: instant AR scene setup.

    • Great for 3D modeling & scanning.

  • Limitations:

    • Lower resolution than cameras (you don’t get a detailed point cloud like pro LiDAR sensors).

    • Still consumer-grade, not survey-grade accuracy.

 

Here's a nice blog on how to use Apple Lidar & integrate with Touchdesigner:
https://interactiveimmersive.io/blog/touchdesigner-3d/3d-scanning-with-apples-lidar/ 

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