iPhone LiDAR 3D Scanning Guide: Room Scan, Scene Scan, Object Capture, and AI-Enhanced LiDAR

KIRI Engine includes several iPhone LiDAR workflows, but they are not interchangeable. Room Scan is for floor plans. Scene Scan is for fast 3D environment meshes. Object Capture covers individual objects, larger areas, and fixed setups. AI-Enhanced LiDAR improves Scene Scan geometry when output quality matters.

This guide explains what each workflow does, when to use each one, and links to the full guide for each mode.

Quick Answer

Room Scan, standard Scene Scan, Object Mode, and Area Mode are available on the free plan and process locally on-device. AI-Enhanced LiDAR requires a Pro subscription and cloud processing.

Room Scan: Floor Plans and Room Measurement

Room Scan uses iPhone LiDAR to capture an interior space and generate a 2D floor plan with room dimensions.

Room Scan generates a 2D floor plan with labeled dimensions from a LiDAR scan of an interior space. Walk around the room while the app builds the layout, and export the result as a floor plan with room dimensions.

Use Room Scan when you need:

• A 2D floor plan of a room or multiple rooms

• Room dimensions and layout reference

• A spatial reference for renovation planning, property viewing, or documentation

Free. Processes locally on-device. Exports OBJ and USDZ.

Full guide: How to Create a Floor Plan with iPhone LiDAR Room Scan →

Scene Scan: Fast 3D Environment Capture

Scene Scan uses iPhone LiDAR to capture rooms and environments as 3D mesh scenes for viewing, sharing, or importing into 3D software.

Scene Scan captures rooms, outdoor spaces, and complex environments as 3D mesh models using the LiDAR sensor. Processing happens locally on-device. Output is a 3D mesh you can view, share, or import into 3D software.

Use Scene Scan when you need:

• A 3D mesh model of an environment or space

• Fast on-device capture with no upload

• Spatial reference for architecture, real estate, or 3D modeling

Free. Processes locally on-device. Exports OBJ and USDZ.

Full guide: How to Use iPhone LiDAR Scene Scan to Capture 3D Environments →

AI-Enhanced LiDAR: Cleaner Scene Scan Geometry

AI-Enhanced LiDAR is a Pro upgrade for Scene Scan. Standard LiDAR output can show noise on flat surfaces, soft structural edges, and inconsistent geometry in low-texture areas. AI-Enhanced LiDAR runs the captured Scene Scan data through a cloud-based AI refinement pipeline before export, producing cleaner geometry.

Among the apps reviewed in our comparison, KIRI Engine is the only one we found with a dedicated AI refinement step for Scene Scan geometry.

Use AI-Enhanced LiDAR when:

• Scene Scan output quality matters for downstream use

• The geometry will be imported into 3D software or inspected closely

• Standard Scene Scan geometry is too noisy or inconsistent for your workflow

Pro only. Requires cloud processing and internet connection.

Full guide: What is AI-Enhanced LiDAR? →

Object Capture: Object Mode and Area Mode

Object Capture includes two distinct modes.

Object Mode scans individual free-standing items by masking out the background. It requires a complete 360-degree capture around the object and produces a clean 3D model without background noise.

Area Mode captures a larger area, fixed setup, or room section by combining LiDAR depth data with photogrammetry-style reconstruction. It usually produces cleaner mesh output than standard Scene Scan, at the cost of longer processing time.

Use Object Mode when:

• Scanning a standalone object you can fully walk around

• You need a clean, background-free 3D model of an item

Use Area Mode when:

• Scanning a fixed setup or area you cannot fully circle

• You need cleaner mesh geometry than standard Scene Scan for a space or section

Both modes free. Both process locally on-device. Export OBJ and USDZ.

Full guide: How to Use iPhone LiDAR Object Capture →

How the Modes Compare

All modes except AI-Enhanced LiDAR run locally on-device with no upload required.

Which Mode Should You Start With?

For floor plans: Room Scan. It is the only mode that outputs a 2D floor plan with labeled dimensions. Scene Scan and Object Capture do not generate floor plans.

For a quick 3D record of a space: Scene Scan. Faster than Area Mode and processes entirely on-device. For most spatial reference and documentation needs, standard Scene Scan is sufficient.

For cleaner scene geometry: Enable AI-Enhanced LiDAR on Scene Scan (Pro). This is KIRI Engine's main quality advantage for environment capture.

For individual objects: Object Mode. Walk around the object, capture all sides, and get a clean model without background noise.

For a fixed area or object you cannot fully circle: Area Mode. Combines LiDAR with photogrammetry-style reconstruction for better mesh quality than Scene Scan, but takes longer to process.

Device Requirements

KIRI Engine LiDAR modes require a LiDAR-equipped iPhone Pro or iPad Pro device.

All LiDAR modes require a LiDAR sensor. Supported devices include iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max and all later iPhone Pro and Pro Max models, plus iPad Pro models from 2020 onward. Standard iPhone models do not include a LiDAR sensor.

KIRI Engine also supports Photo Scan (photogrammetry from photos) and 3D Gaussian Splatting on all iPhones and Android devices. These methods do not require LiDAR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which KIRI Engine LiDAR mode should I use first? Start with the output you need. Use Room Scan for floor plans, Scene Scan for a fast 3D mesh of a space, Object Mode for individual objects, Area Mode for cleaner mesh capture of fixed setups or room sections, and AI-Enhanced LiDAR when Scene Scan geometry quality matters.

What is the difference between Scene Scan and Room Scan? Room Scan generates a 2D floor plan with labeled dimensions. Scene Scan generates a 3D mesh model of an environment without a floor plan output. Use Room Scan for measurements and floor plans. Use Scene Scan for 3D environment capture.

What is the difference between Scene Scan and Object Capture Area Mode? Standard Scene Scan uses LiDAR only and is optimized for fast capture. Area Mode combines LiDAR with photogrammetry-style reconstruction, usually producing cleaner mesh geometry but taking significantly longer to process.

Is AI-Enhanced LiDAR the same as Scene Scan? No. Standard Scene Scan captures and processes LiDAR depth data locally. AI-Enhanced LiDAR adds a cloud-based AI refinement step before export, improving geometry quality. AI-Enhanced LiDAR is a Pro upgrade and applies to Scene Scan only.

Do all these modes run offline? Room Scan, Scene Scan (standard), Object Mode, and Area Mode all process entirely on-device with no internet connection required. AI-Enhanced LiDAR requires an internet connection for cloud processing.

Which LiDAR mode is free? Room Scan, Scene Scan, Object Mode, and Area Mode are all available on the free plan with no export restrictions. AI-Enhanced LiDAR requires a Pro subscription.

Does KIRI Engine support Android for LiDAR? No. All LiDAR modes require a LiDAR sensor, which is only available on iPhone Pro and iPad Pro models. Android users can use KIRI Engine's Photo Scan or 3D Gaussian Splatting.

Get Started

KIRI Engine is free to download. Room Scan, standard Scene Scan, Object Mode, and Area Mode are available on the free plan. AI-Enhanced LiDAR requires a Pro subscription.

Download on the App Store · Try KIRI Engine on Web · View Pro plans

Related Guides

• How to Create a Floor Plan with iPhone LiDAR Room Scan

• How to Use iPhone LiDAR Scene Scan to Capture 3D Environments

• What is AI-Enhanced LiDAR?

• How to Use iPhone LiDAR Object Capture

• Best LiDAR 3D Scanner Apps for iPhone in 2026

• LiDAR Scan modes: concept overview

• 3D Gaussian Splatting vs Photogrammetry vs LiDAR