Why almost all iPhones have a hole next to the camera and what is it for

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Why almost all iPhones have a hole next to the camera and what is it for

camera, hole, iPhones

Whether you have an iPhone or not, you've probably already noticed it There is a small hole between the flash and the rear cameras of the device. It has existed since the iPhone 5 and has been maintained generation after generation until reaching the latest iPhone 16.

Some think it's a camera sensor, others think it's a proximity sensor. There are also those who think it is related to flash. The reality it's much simplerHey, actually, you can see for yourself how useful it is if you record a video with the rear camera and blow into that hole.

This hole is… a microphone

iPhone5
iPhone5

The iconic iPhone 5 launched in 2012 already had this microphone

Secret revealed. It is neither a flash element, nor a vent when the camera heats up, nor a sensor linked to the camera. It is simply a microphone that activates when we record videos with the rear camera of the iPhone.

Therefore, it is not a microphone that is used when we speak on the phone or record an audio note. In these cases, the microphone that intervenes is the one that appears at the bottom of the device, right next to the speakers.

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This microphone is capable of record audio with very good quality. “Studio,” Apple says, and while it's probably not that bad, it does reduce background noise a bit and combat elements like wind so it doesn't sneak into recordings or, if he does sneak it in, it's not enough to eclipse the voice of the person we're recording.

And what is this big circle that appears on the iPhone Pro?

Lidar
Lidar

Starting with the iPhone 12 Pro, also including the new iPhone 16 Pro, you will have seen that on the back there are up to six elements: the triple camera, the flash, the microphone and a strange flat circle which, a priori, seems to be of no use.

It is in fact a LiDAR sensor. This is a technology that uses pulses of laser light to measure distances precisely and with a variety of uses, the best known being power. create three-dimensional maps. It is similar to the sensors that some vehicles have to measure distances, as well as autonomous vacuum cleaners.

Beyond these specific and extremely useful functions for professionals who work with 3D models, for the general public this sensor is also useful in the photographic section, since thanks to its ability to measure depth it can apply better portrait mode in photographs and especially when the light in the scene is not the most ideal.

It must be said in any case that this sensor is not exclusive to iPhones in the 'Pro' range. In addition to these devices from other brands mentioned above, at Apple we can also find them in the “Pro” iPad range. From the iPad Pro 2020 to the latest iPad Pro M4, this sensor is also present.

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