Apple is bringing eye-tracking to select iPhones, iPads

Apple has a history of announcing new assistive features every year, usually closer to Global Accessibility Awareness Day. These features may not be useful to most iPhone users, but can be very important to people with disabilities, allowing them to use their tech more effectively.

This year, this feature update comes in the form of eye-tracking. On select iPhones and iPads, users can simply use their eyes for navigating through iOS/iPadOS – not having to use their hands for basic tasks.

How does Apple eye-tracking feature for iPhones, iPads work?

The new feature works using the front camera on the supported iPhones and iPads. The camera is able to track the movements of your eye, similar to how the sensors inside headsets like the Apple Vision Pro or PS VR 2 work.

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Using the feature, users can move their eyes around to navigate through apps and menus, and simply linger on any item for a while to ‘select’ it. The feature does require an initial setup to work effectively, but it shouldn’t take too long.

The good news here is that iOS and iPadOS have supported eye-tracking with specific third-party hardware for years, so all the code is still in there, and the new feature simply negates the need for external hardware.

This feature will not only help those with hand-related disabilities of the temporary and permanent kind, but will also help out other users when they need both their hands free, like when doing the dishes or holding a toddler.

Which devices will get the feature?

The eye-tracking feature will come to all iPhones and iPads powered by the A12 chip or higher, which means all iPhones since the iPhone XS/XS Max should be able to use the feature.

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There’s however no clarity yet on when these features will be announced. With WWDC 24 merely a few weeks away, it is possible that Apple actually announces these features with iOS 18, the next major iOS update.