iPhone: Double-double-hearting of Apple only for 2025 devices-apps help

It sounds useful: While you film a little with the main camera of the iPhone, you take the selfie camera at the same time. So you can react to the filmed. In the future, the function will be integrated into Apple’s camera application at iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air. The manufacturer calls this “dual capture” or “double recording”.

Surprisingly, older iPhones including the 16-series series from 2024 do not get the feature-it would be technically not a problem, as alternative apps have been showing for years. This suggests that Apple Dual Capture only offers for its new devices for marketing reasons: it would not be the first time that the group is doing this way. It is conceivable that the feature will also be submitted later, for example with iOS 27, for older iPhones. Until then, you have to make use of applications that do not come from Apple.

Apple function with restrictions

Dual Capture can be found via the video function of the iPhone-17 models and the iPhone Air. If you click on video (or the setting menu), a pop-up opens in which you can activate the double recording. The selfie picture appears on the right upper edge of the screen, but can be moved. Pro models of the iPhone 17 can switch between the three cameras in the rear without ending the recording.

You can currently record with 1080p or 4K (at 24 or 30 frames per second). However, it is not possible to divide the recording into individual files per camera or to put the selfie image in the foreground. A split screen is also not intended.

Dual capture with alternative apps

If you only have an older iPhone model, you can simply use alternative apps. Because: Since the iPhone 11 Pro (published in September 2019), the double recording is generally possible-thanks to an Apple API interface.

The function is integrated, for example, into the application 2 cam (formerly duet), Røde Capture or Filmic Doubletake. The apps also offer more options, such as the representation as split screen. While you can use Røde Capture free of charge, subscription fees of 23 euros per year are due for double lake, although there are also package offers with Filmic Pro (then 80 euros a year). 2Cam costs 35 euros a year or 10 euros a month – also not exactly cheap.