Apple Highlights Depth Control Feature on iPhone XS, XS Max and XR With New How To Video

Apple today shared a new how to video that's designed to walk new iPhone users through using the Depth Control feature on the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.

Depth Control, a feature new to the 2018 iPhones, lets you adjust the amount of background blur in a photo taken with Portrait Mode using either the front or rear camera.


Depth Control can be accessed by choosing a Portrait Mode photo from the Photos app, selecting the "Edit" button, and using the slider at the bottom of the screen to adjust the blur from f/1.4 (maximum blur) to f/16 (no blur).

Depth Control is available when editing an already-captured photo and as of iOS 12.1, there's a real-time Depth Control feature for adjusting blur before you take a photo.

Apple has in the past shared multiple short how to videos like this to highlight photography capabilities on the iPhone along with iPhone X features.

We're likely going to see several more videos focused on the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR in the coming weeks as Apple helps users adjust to the new features available on the devices.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Use Same Rear Chassis as iPhone 16

Friday July 19, 2024 7:16 am PDT by
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Just Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Monday July 15, 2024 4:44 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iphone 14 lineup

Cellebrite Unable to Unlock iPhones on iOS 17.4 or Later, Leak Reveals

Thursday July 18, 2024 4:18 am PDT by
Israel-based mobile forensics company Cellebrite is unable to unlock iPhones running iOS 17.4 or later, according to leaked documents verified by 404 Media. The documents provide a rare glimpse into the capabilities of the company's mobile forensics tools and highlight the ongoing security improvements in Apple's latest devices. The leaked "Cellebrite iOS Support Matrix" obtained by 404 Media...
tinypod apple watch

TinyPod Turns Your Apple Watch Into an iPod

Wednesday July 17, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
If you have an old Apple Watch and you're not sure what to do with it, a new product called TinyPod might be the answer. Priced at $79, the TinyPod is a silicone case with a built-in scroll wheel that houses the Apple Watch chassis. When an Apple Watch is placed inside the TinyPod, the click wheel on the case is able to be used to scroll through the Apple Watch interface. The feature works...
bsod

Crowdstrike Says Global IT Outage Impacting Windows PCs, But Mac and Linux Hosts Not Affected

Friday July 19, 2024 3:12 am PDT by
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery...
Apple Watch Series 9

2024 Apple Watch Lineup: Key Changes We're Expecting

Tuesday July 16, 2024 7:59 am PDT by
Apple is seemingly planning a rework of the Apple Watch lineup for 2024, according to a range of reports from over the past year. Here's everything we know so far. Apple is expected to continue to offer three different Apple Watch models in five casing sizes, but the various display sizes will allegedly grow by up to 12% and the casings will get taller. Based on all of the latest rumors,...

Top Rated Comments

seatton Avatar
75 months ago
Unfortunately, my outdated iPhone X cannot do that :(
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Marconelly Avatar
75 months ago
Unfortunately, my outdated iPhone X cannot do that :(
You can use the app called Focos that does this, and so much more - including adding lights to a scene you shot, and moving them around in 3D space. It's kind of insane and way more advanced than just this feature - and works on iPhone X and up.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarpalMac Avatar
75 months ago
Unfortunately, my outdated iPhone X cannot do that :(
*Is not allowed to do that.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
75 months ago
Depth sensing tech still needs a lot of improvement. I would say the way it is done today is barely usable.
This picture was taken by my iPhone X Max using the "portrait" mode.
Take a look at the chair or at the right side of the pumpkin.

You’re right. Barely usable. What a joke. Looks like a 1MP camera was trudged through custard and then a small child with a head resembling a lightbulb threw the phone in the air.

Simultaneously another child, also with a lightbulb-shaped head, was wearing a pair of oven gloves and soared through the air like a salmon to press the camera at the exact same time.

The result was the utter blur you’ve posted. Though honestly to my eyes I think it’s not too terrible. But hey, what do I know — I’m no photographer.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AngerDanger Avatar
75 months ago
I never thought I’d hear a backing track comprised entirely of alert sounds, but there you go.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H818H Avatar
75 months ago
Couldn't care less about this shiitty, fake depth of field BS that apple is pushing like it's the best thing since sliced bread

"We built a shittty photoshop-type effect right into the camera. $1000 please"

No deal
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)