One of the new features on Apple’s most recent premium handset was the introduction of a LiDAR sensor. If you’re uncertain of what this is, we put together a rather handy explainer here, but basically, LiDAR is like a light version of sonar. The lens fires out beams and then tracks how long they take to return. This allows the computer to understand and map the space, as it can accurately measure the shape and distance between things. And that, friends, is how the iPhone 12 Pro is able to measure people’s height. (This is the part where I shake my head, say “technology,” and stuff a pipe). [Read: What audience intelligence data tells us about the 2020 US presidential election]
I’ve got an iPhone 12 Pro — how can I measure people’s height?
First off: odd question. I’m not sure just because you can measure people’s height that you should. But hey, I’m here to pass on information, not be the arbiter of what you do with said knowledge. Let’s get into it. Your opening move is firing up the Measure app on your iPhone 12 Pro (or 2020 iPad Pro, as that has a LiDAR sensor too). Then make sure the person you’re measuring is fully in frame. At this point (but be patient), the Measure app should notice the person and give you their height. Like this: As a quick note: if you want to change the units the Measure app displays, you can find this option in Settings.
Is this function any good?
It’s incredibly cool. And is a good example of where LiDAR technology can go in a few years. Imagine just being able to point your phone at your feet and receive recommendations on shoe’s that’ll fit you best. Saying that, I’ve played around with the heigh measuring and, as good as it is, it’s not entirely accurate. It can be fooled by the shape of your hair, if you’re wearing a hat, and I found there was a little variance depending on where you stood. Despite saying that — these all gave pretty minor variations, and I was genuinely impressed with the whole experience. Well, there you have it everyone! A quick and easy way to measure people’s height using your new iPhone 12 Pro. That should keep those fellas on Tinder honest.
