Explainer

The Best LiDAR Apps for iPhone and iPad

By Jeff Butts

Published December 31, 2023

If you’ve never used the LiDAR sensor on your iPhone Pro or iPad Pro, have a look at some of the best apps that use the feature.

Are you ready to dive into the world of LiDAR apps for your iPhone and iPad? Imagine wielding the power of laser technology right in the palm of your hand. It’s not science fiction anymore, it’s reality! LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is like giving your device superhero vision, allowing it to measure distances, map environments, and even detect invisible goblins. Okay, maybe not goblins, but it’s still pretty awesome.

In this article, I’ll explore the crème de la crème of LiDAR apps that can transform your iPhone or iPad into a futuristic gadget. Whether you’re a professional surveyor, an interior design maven, or just someone who loves to play with cool tech, there’s something here for everyone. So, fasten your seatbelts (or should I say, secure your phone cases?) and get ready for a journey through the best LiDAR iPhone apps that will make your friends say, “Whoa, how did you do that?” Let’s get started!

All About the Light

LiDAR is a bit like radar, but it’s still pretty much the new kid on the block. Short for “Light Detection and Ranging,” think of LiDAR as your device’s way of playing an invisible game of laser tag with the world.

It zaps out a laser that no one can see and then gathers information based on how the laser interacts with objects around you. This beam helps your device figure out the shape of things and how far away they are.

Now, LiDAR isn’t just for fun and games; it’s a big deal in several industries. You’ll see it used by high-flying planes, satellites orbiting in space, and even futuristic self-driving cars. These technological wonders all rely on LiDAR to see the world.

But here’s where it gets really exciting: In 2020, LiDAR strutted onto the smartphone stage with Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Pro models. It was like giving your phone X-ray vision! Since then, the sensor has been included with each iPhone and iPad Pro model. The trouble is, it’s almost a hidden feature that most folks don’t know how to make the most of.

Apps That Put LiDAR to Work on Your iPhone in Useful Ways

When Apple first introduced its LiDAR capabilities, we saw tons of fun ways to use it. Games were quick to adopt LiDAR to make things more immersive, and those ideas are still going strong. But, several apps use the technology for much more than entertainment.

Your iPhone or iPad Pro’s LiDAR sensor brings the power of a 3D scanner right to your device. You can quickly take accurate measurements and even scan objects to later manipulate in CAD software. If you’re using an augmented reality app, LiDAR can help make that experience even more lifelike.

Taking Accurate Measurements with Ease Using LiDAR

There’s a nifty app bundled inside iOS that uses the LiDAR sensor to turn your iPhone Pro into a ruler. It’s an unsung hero, though, since most folks seem unaware it’s even there. The app is called, aptly enough, Measure.

If you’re working on a DIY home improvement project, or just want to see if a new piece of furniture will fit through the door, Measure’s got your back. The app can give you extremely detailed information about how big an object is or how far it is from other things.

Use Your iPhone to Remodel or Redecorate Your Home

There are a few apps (maybe more than a few!) that take advantage of LiDAR to help you remodel or redecorate your home. You can quickly scan your space in 3D and the app generates an accurate floor plan, complete with measurements. Others allow you to see how a piece of furniture will look in your living room, for example.

Generate 3D CAD Files or Blueprints Using Canvas

One of these, Canvas, is like a handy tape measure that uses the LiDAR sensor on your iPhone or iPad instead of a flimsy metal strip. Thinking of building a dream house? Just wave your device around, and Canvas gives you a 3D scan of any room in mere minutes. It’s like having a mini architect in your pocket!

Canvas isn’t just about creating cool 3D scans, though. It’s got this amazing “Scan to CAD” feature that transforms your scans into CAD or BIM files. Export the files and you can edit the models in your program of choice on your computer.

The downside is that exporting your file directly to a CAD model requires a lot of time and expertise. You can, though, send the files off for Canvas to create professional-quality as-built CAD or BIM models.

Room Planner App for iPhone and iPad Uses LiDAR to Help Visualize Your New Interior Design

The Room Planner app turns your iPhone or iPad Pro into a magic wand for home design. Want to design your dream living room while sitting around in your pajamas? Room Planner makes that happen. Just wave your device around to scan your space, or get creative with some digital building blocks. And if you change your mind about the size of your virtual room, a quick tweak is all it takes to adjust that.

Once you’ve crafted your room, it’s time to play virtual interior designer by adding some snazzy furniture. Or, take a bird’s-eye view with the floor plan feature to see how everything fits together. Stuck for ideas? Dive into the community section for a dose of inspiration.

The free version of Room Planner is feature-packed, but one of those features is, unfortunately, an ad-rich experience. It has a pesky full-screen banner that pops up like an uninvited party guest, nudging you to join the premium club.

Don’t get me wrong, going premium is like getting a VIP pass to more furniture choices and the ability to juggle multiple room designs. But hey, the free version is like a treasure chest brimming with goodies, perfect for personal projects. You might only need to consider the premium subscription if you’re decking out spaces for commercial glitz and glam.

Capture 3D Models from Real-Life Objects

Now, let’s say you want to grab a 3D model of something on your desk. Maybe you’re a video game designer and want to include that in your next hit title. Or, you might want to make a replica of that thing on your 3D printer.

Polycam, the Big Dog for Capturing 3D Models

Several apps for the iPhone help with that. One of the best available is Polycam, which you can download for free on the App Store. Polycam lets you create those 3D models and edit them right on your device. You can also export them to use in apps like Blender, Autodesk Maya, and more.

Polycam is free, but you will need to subscribe to one of its Pro plans to unlock all features and export modes and remove some of the capture limitations.

A Worthy, Totally Free Alternative for 3D Scanning

Next up is Scaniverse, another 3D scanning app for the iPhone and iPad. This app will work even on devices without LiDAR, but the sensor in the Pro devices gives Scaniverse an even higher level of accuracy.

Once you’ve captured your 3D scan, you can post it to the Scaniverse website and view it in 3D or AR from any web browser. You can also export the models in .OBJ, .FBX, .USDZ, and .LAS formats. Then, you can import the models into Blender or Maya. You can even drop them into game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.

Scaniverse may be a bit more limited than Polycam, but it’s 100% free on the App Store. You don’t even have to worry about unlocking features with in-app purchases or subscriptions.

Using LiDAR for Fun and Entertainment

Like any great feature, there’s a fun side to LiDAR, along with its usefulness. Using the sensor on your iPhone or iPad Pro, you can use a wide variety of pretty cool lenses on Snapchat in its AR mode. Just type in “lidar” in the lens search, and you’ll see a bunch of them. You can even create your own filter, if you want.

Another fun app to play with is RC Club. It uses that LiDAR sensor to put your RC car or truck of choice into a real-world environment. Unfortunately, its developers haven’t updated the game since 2020, so its future seems pretty uncertain.

Make the Most of Every Feature Apple Gives You

I think it’s pretty obvious the LiDAR sensor on newer iPhone Pro and iPad Pro models brings a lot to the table. If you’ve never used it, you just might find yourself hooked on exploring everything it can do.

If you’ve got a favorite iPhone or iPad app that uses LiDAR, be sure to let us know in the comments.