Which iPhones Support Spatial Scenes?
Which iPhones support Spatial Scenes? The iOS 26 holographic Lock Screen effect works on iPhone 12 and newer, with all depth processing done on-device.
Spatial Scenes are the iOS 26 feature that turns a flat photo into a holographic Lock Screen — the image gains depth and shifts as you tilt your iPhone. Before you get excited about setting one up, it is worth confirming your phone can actually run it. The feature has a clear hardware requirement, and not every iPhone running iOS 26 qualifies. Here is exactly which models are supported and why.
The short answer
Spatial Scenes work on iPhone 12 and newer, running iOS 26. That includes the iPhone 12 line and every numbered generation after it, plus the recent iPhone SE generation that shares the same class of processing hardware. Older iPhones that can install iOS 26 may still not offer the spatial effect, because the requirement is about on-device processing power, not just the operating system version.
Why iPhone 12 is the cutoff
Spatial Scenes are not a simple animation. To create the holographic depth, your iPhone analyzes a photo, reconstructs the parts of the background hidden behind the subject, and then re-projects those layers in real time as you move the phone. That work leans on the neural processing hardware inside newer chips.
iPhone 12 and later have the on-device capability to do this smoothly, which is why Apple drew the line there. On older hardware, the depth reconstruction and real-time re-projection would not run the way the feature needs, so the option simply is not offered.
It all happens on your device
One reassuring detail: all of this processing is local. Your photos are not uploaded to a server to generate the effect. That is part of why the hardware requirement exists — the iPhone itself does the heavy lifting, so it needs a capable enough chip.
A note on iOS versions
There is a common point of confusion worth clearing up. There is no iOS 25. Apple jumped from iOS 18 straight to iOS 26, aligning the version number with the year. So if you are looking for “iOS 25 Spatial Scenes,” that version never existed — the feature lives in iOS 26.
To use Spatial Scenes, your iPhone needs to be both:
- A supported model — iPhone 12 or newer, and
- Updated to iOS 26.
If you meet both, the spatial effect appears as a toggle in the Lock Screen editor.
How to check your iPhone
Not sure which model you have? You can confirm quickly:
- Open Settings > General > About and look at the Model Name.
- Then check your iOS version under Settings > General > Software Update. If iOS 26 is available and you are on a supported model, update to enable the feature.
If your model is iPhone 12 or newer and you are on iOS 26, you are ready. If you are on an older model, the spatial effect will not be available no matter what — though you can still enjoy plenty of other Lock Screen features.
What older iPhones can still do
If your iPhone is older than the iPhone 12, you are not locked out of a great Lock Screen — you just will not have Spatial Scenes specifically. Depending on your model and iOS version, you may still be able to use the Depth Effect, which lifts your subject in front of the clock, and Live wallpapers, which play motion. Our iOS 26 wallpaper customization guide covers what is available across the editor, and you can browse the full wallpaper library for images that look great with or without depth.
Getting the most from a supported iPhone
If you do have a supported model, the quality of the effect still depends on your photo. Spatial Scenes need a clear foreground subject and a distinct background to separate into layers. Portraits, pets, and close-up objects shine; flat patterns stay flat. The Depth Effect collection is full of images already built with that separation in mind, so they take to the spatial effect well.
FAQ
What is the oldest iPhone that supports Spatial Scenes? The iPhone 12. Every model from the iPhone 12 generation onward supports the feature on iOS 26.
Does iOS 26 alone enable Spatial Scenes? No. You need both iOS 26 and a supported model — iPhone 12 or newer. Older phones that can run iOS 26 still will not offer the spatial effect.
Is there an iOS 25 version of this feature? No. There is no iOS 25; Apple went from iOS 18 to iOS 26. Spatial Scenes are an iOS 26 feature.
Does the effect need an internet connection? No. All the depth processing happens on-device, so your photos are never uploaded to create the effect.
If your iPhone qualifies and you want a library of depth-ready wallpapers to try the effect with, Get Wallpaper Hub on the App Store.