📱Running Looking Glass Displays with iOS Devices

Looking Glass now supports seamless integration with iOS devices, allowing users to connect their Looking Glass Go or 16” displays directly to an iPhone or iPad via USB-C. This capability enables you to run interactive applications for your Looking Glass display using compatible iOS devices, such as the iPhone 15/16 Pro, iPhone 15/16 Pro Max, and iPad Pro (M4).

With this new feature, you can:

• Run Looking Glass iOS apps like the Hologram Video app on the Looking Glass Go and 16”

• Build and deploy your own iOS applications for Looking Glass using our Unity plugin

• Run demo applications demonstrating different use cases with a seamless setup

This opens up exciting new opportunities for developing and showcasing interactive 3D content without the need for a computer, streamlining workflows and expanding creative possibilities.

Hardware setup

Looking Glass Go Display

Looking Glass Go displays can be run via iPhone 15/16 Pro or iPad Pro (M4) devices.

Both power and display signal will be driven by the iOS device via a single 10Gbps USB-C cable. There is no need to connect your Go to a different power source. It will work like a holographic secondary display for your iOS device 🎉

If you find that your iPhone occasionally displays the “Cannot Use Accessory” alert when connected directly to the Looking Glass Go, consider using the Satechi Mobile XR Hub. This compact hub helps manage power draw so that your iOS device is not solely responsible for powering the display.

1. Connect your iOS device to the XR Hub: Attach your iPhone 15/16 Pro to the Satechi Mobile XR Hub via a USB-C cable.

2. Attach the Looking Glass Go: Plug the Looking Glass Go into the Satechi Mobile XR Hub’s output port.

3. Optional external power: For extended sessions, you may also connect a power adapter to the XR Hub itself, ensuring stable power delivery to both the hub and the Looking Glass Go.

By offloading part of the power draw, the Satechi Mobile XR Hub helps maintain reliable performance and can reduce or eliminate power-related warnings on your iPhone. It also preserves your iPhone battery life, which is especially handy for longer holographic workflows.

To set up your Go device to be able to run iOS devices, follow the user guide to setting up your Go device. Once it is set up and connected to the internet, it will automatically receive an update to the latest firmware version — this is required to be compatible with iOS devices. You can check your firmware version via the Go Mobile App by selecting the settings button on the top right. You must be on firmware v1.0.59 or later.

Note that updates can take several minutes to download and process. If your device fails to update, you can do so manually by following these instructions and can contact our support team for assistance at [email protected].

Once your Go device has updated, run the device once in Standalone mode, and then restart the device. This will create a new drive on your device that is required for interfacing with iOS devices.

When your device has restarted, connect your Go to your iPhone or iPad via USB-C cable. The power light indicator should turn blue. Press the power button.

The screen of your Go device should turn on and mirror your iOS device screen.

For best results, you should also set the audio output device to be the iPhone, not the Looking Glass — this will ensure you can hear any sound effects and audio from running apps. To do so:

• Pull down from top right corner of your iPhone to expose the menu

• Click the button on the top right of the menu

• Select "iPhone" from the options

The setup is now complete and you can run our iOS software applications.

Looking Glass 16” and 27" Displays

Looking Glass 16” and 27" displays can be run via iPhone 15/16 Pro, iPhone 15/16 Pro Max, or iPad Pro (M4) devices, but we strongly recommend using an iPad for best performance.

To connect your Looking Glass 16” or 27" display:

1. Plug both USB-C cables into the device, per the hardware setup guide. The HDMI cable won’t be necessary for this process.

2. Plug one of the USB-C cables into the power adapter and into a wall socket. Plug the other USB-C cable into your iOS device (Note: this must be a 10Gbps cable).

Your Looking Glass display should now turn on and show the iOS device background. The setup is now complete and you can run our iOS software applications.

For optimal usage of the system, there are a few settings that will improve the user experience.

• Set your device to extended, not mirror — this will improve the rendering quality of the output in the Hologram Video app and when no app is being run from the iPad

  • Under "Settings" -> "Display & Brightness" select "Arrangement" and ensure the toggle for "Mirror Display" is off

• Set audio output device to be the iPad, not the Looking Glass — this will ensure you can hear any sound effects and audio from running apps

  • Pull down from top right corner of your iPad to expose the menu

  • Click the button on the top right of the menu

  • Select "iPad" from the options

• Set the lock screen to activate after 15 minutes — this will mitigate any burn in caused by having a static image run for too long

  • Under "Settings" -> "Display & Brightness" select "Auto-Lock" and ensure "15 minutes" is selected from the list of options

• Ensure low-power mode is disabled

  • Under "Settings" -> "Battery" make sure the toggle for Low Power Mode is untoggled

Running applications

We provide a suite of iOS applications for you to use on your Looking Glass devices.

Loading calibration data

For all applications, you must first select the calibration file for your Looking Glass device. When you run your application, you will be prompted to:

• Connect your device via USB-C

• Load a calibration file via the file browser. Calibration files are under Locations -> LKG-XXXXXX (your device serial number) -> LKG_calibration -> visual.json. Select the visual.json file

• Your calibration is now loaded — applications will store this for future use

Calibrations differ between devices. If you connect your iOS device to a different Looking Glass, you’ll need to set your calibration. Looking Glass Studio for iOS will then store this data so you only need to configure each display once. Our demo apps don't have this sophisticated handling, so they require more confirmation steps.

Demo app confirmation

Our demo applications will ask you to confirm the loaded calibration when you start the app. If your device is connected to a new Looking Glass display, be sure to load a new calibration file.

If you’ve asked to not show this prompt again but have connected your device to a new Looking Glass display, you’ll need to change the calibration by selecting Settings (the gear icon) -> Load new calibration. Navigate to the visual.json for your new device and select it.

You can also confirm your calibration is correct using the calibration test image. This can be selected from the popup screen that notifies you which calibration file is being used, which appears once you connect your device or can be accessed by pressing the gear button for settings. The test image should show a red vertical line in front of a blue vertical line in the center of the screen.

If your Looking Glass doesn't have these two superimposed straight lines in the center, you're likely using the wrong calibration. Reload the calibration file to resolve the issue.

Looking Glass Studio for iOS app

This app lets you load and play a variety of hologram image and video formats. You can:

• Load quilt images and videos generated using our Unity plugin or other creator tools

• Load RGBD images and videos generated with tools like Depth Anything, DepthCrafter, and Owl3D

• Load Cinematic videos shot on an iPhone 15 or later

See a full guide for Looking Glass Studio for iOS here.

Demo apps

We have a suite of demo applications that showcase different use cases for our technology.

3D Replicas

Shows scans of historical artifacts, demonstrating a museum use case. Controls to rotate, zoom, and adjust lighting.

This app is in beta and intended for demonstration purposes — it is distributed via TestFlight. To install it, first install TestFlight to your iOS device. Then, access it here.

3D Shoecase

Shows a selection of shoes and sneakers, demonstrating a retail use case. Controls to rotate, zoom, and adjust lighting.

This app is in beta and intended for demonstration purposes — it is distributed via TestFlight. To install it, first install TestFlight to your iOS device. Then, access it here.

4D Ultrasound

A selection of models generated from medical scanning data, demonstrating a medical use case.

This app is in beta and intended for demonstration purposes — it is distributed via TestFlight. To install it, first install TestFlight to your iOS device. Then, access it here.

3D Memoji (coming soon!)

Uses the built-in camera in your iOS device to let you become a holographic sloth character, demonstrating a location-based entertainment use case.

Developing applications

In addition to running the Holographic Video Player and demo applications, you can also create your own content via our Unity plugin. Follow our developer guide for more details!