iOS 26 Spatial Scenes: Turn Any Photo into a 3D Wallpaper
With iOS 26 Apple introduces Spatial Scenes, a feature that converts ordinary 2D photos into dynamic, motion‑responsive 3D wallpapers. The system generates depth and multiple perspectives so images react to device movement, producing a convincing parallax effect.
Key points
- Spatial Scenes transform regular photos into 3D backgrounds that respond to iPhone motion.
- Works with the Photos widget on the Home Screen so you can set transformed images quickly.
- Processing is done on the device using the Neural Engine; Apple confirms the feature in its iOS 26 documentation.
- Supported on iPhone 12 and newer (performance varies by model).
How it works (brief)
Apple’s system analyzes the photo to estimate depth and synthesize missing scene details, then renders multiple views so the image appears spatial as you tilt or move the iPhone. The effect is generated locally and is powered by on‑device machine learning.
Want to try it?
Open Photos, pick an image, and look for the option to create a Spatial Scene or set it as a dynamic wallpaper. You can also use the Photos widget on your Home Screen to preview and apply Spatial Scenes.
Sources & further reading
- Apple Support — What’s new in iOS 26: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/whats-new-in-ios-26-iphfed2c4091/ios
- Apple Newsroom — iOS 26 overview: Apple Newsroom
- Further technical context: GadgetHacks article on Spatial Scenes
Note: Links to the original RSS news source have been omitted. This post links only to official Apple resources and high‑level coverage.