iOS 26 Depth Pro is quickly becoming one of Apple’s most creative software creations of all time—and, maybe, also one of the most elite. Newest reports suggest iOS 26 Depth Pro may be exclusive to the rumored iPhone Fold, set for release in 2026.
As iOS 26 shapes up to be one of Apple’s most anticipated updates, it’s not only about the controversial changes either. Most exciting of all is the rumored iOS 26 Depth Pro feature – a tech that’ll apparently add 3D-like motion depth to 2D photos and see them operate as dynamic wallpapers. This could reshape personalization on iPhones — for many, at any rate.
Depth Pro gets better with iOS 26 support and more!
According to 9to5Mac, the offer iOS 26 Depth Pro app, will apparently allow users to turn regular 2D photos into 3D-like wallpapers. In contrast to regular non-animated wallpapers, this one actually responds to touch and movement with parallax effects to create a full depth-of-field experience. That’s thanks to Apple’s sophisticated subject-isolation AI, that can produce results in 0.3 seconds.
According to sources, the iOS26 Depth Pro leverages some of the same techniques as Apple’s own Spatial Video and Photo tools, which are already sanctioned for Vision Pro–grade content production. It’s another sign that Apple is continually tethering the iPhone to its growing AR ecosystem.
Exclusivity to the iPhone Fold
iOS 26 Depth Pro (As eager as plenty of iPhone users will be to get their hands on iOS 26 Depth Pro, recent leaks and rumors suggest that it could be locked to one device type: the iPhone Fold. That foldable iPhone, which is said to launch as soon as 2026, could come with a special build of iOS 26 tailored to flexible screens. If true, iOS 26 Depth Pro might be a showcase feature for this new hardware.
The iPhone Fold is also expected to operate on a proprietary Liquid Glass UI which is a user interface tailored for Apple’s AR applications. In that context, iOS 26 Depth Pro is a similar natural next point between smartphone and mixed reality ecosystems.
iPhone 18 series could be ‘skipped’
And if iOS 26 Depth Pro is indeed just for the iPhone Fold, owners of the iPhone 18 series or earlier would be out of luck. It said these next iPhones, which will probably support a majority of iOS 26 features, may not include the new 3D wallpaper engine because of hardware restrictions or Apple’s decision to create a separation between phones in terms of strategy.
That said, even the limited release of iOS 26 Depth Pro underscores Apple’s commitment to breaking new ground in the realm of UI and user experience. If it makes it to more devices or not is beside the point — it’s another example of the company’s burgeoning ambition to change what mobile visuals mean in the age of augmented reality.
