A CLEVER iPhone trick lets you change the shape of the beam of light from its built-in torch.
Gadget fans have spotted the handy feature, which has only been out for a few months.
You can use this pop-up to control not just the brightness of the torch – but its shape too[/caption]
But it’s available on millions of iPhone models, and you might have the right one.
Apple has been letting you change the brightness of your iPhone’s torch for years.
But it’s now also possible to have a very wide light, or a focused beam that can shine on a specific point.
First, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve updated your iPhone to iOS 18.
That’s the software update that came out in September last year.
Just go to Settings > General > Software Update to check if you have it.
Then activate your torch. You can do it from the Lock Screen (using the little shortcut icon) or using the button in the Control Centre.
This should bring up a pop-up showing a torch with some lines around it.
To control it, press your finger on the torch illustration, then move it up and down to control brightness.
And if you move your finger left and right, that will change the focus of the beam.
So if you drag your finger all the way to the right, you’ll get a thin and focused beam.
Similarly, move it all the way to the left to get a very broad light.
And pushing your finger up towards the top of the pop-up will give you the brightest possible light.
Moving it all the way down will dim it – and even switch it off entirely.
The flash on your iPhone’s camera module is more useful than you realise[/caption]
A gadget fan who discovered the feature posted to Reddit asking: “Why did it take me so long to find out you can change the focus of the flashlight?”
Another Apple fan replied: “It’s not a well-documented feature.”
One wrote: “Geez, I knew I could adjust the brightness but this post taught me that I can adjust the width of the beam too.”
Another said: “I legit just found this out too. I adjust the brightness all the time that way. Never thought about swiping horizontally.”
iOS 18 devices – can your iPhone get it?
Here are the devices that can get the new iOS 18 update
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e
Picture Credit: Apple / The Sun
And one added: “OP definitely did a good turn raising awareness of this feature.
“My job requires a flashlight at times and sometimes I don’t have said flashlight, so having the ability to have a more focused beam of light might help me a lot. I tip my hat to you, OP”
But some gadget fans complained that their devices didn’t offer the feature.
One wrote: “It’s only on the newer models I believe. My iPhone 13 Pro doesn’t have this feature.”
You can access the torch through your iPhone’s Control Centre[/caption]
Another said: “14 Pro onwards I believe. My 15 doesn’t have it.”
And one added: “Yeah my 14 Pro has this feature meanwhile my friend’s 15 doesn’t have. So yeah, only Pro models.”
Here’s a list of the iPhone models that the trick works on:
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
If you have an iPhone that isn’t on that list, you’ll only be able to adjust the brightness of the torch.
You can also activate the torch by using the Lock Screen icon[/caption]
