Apple debuted a new ad on its YouTube page over the weekend, showcasing the new Portrait Lighting feature for the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus.

The ad depicts a woman walking down the street, perfectly illuminated with studio-like lighting despite moving between different locations. The ad shows off all of the different Portrait Lighting settings including Studio Light, Natural Light, Contour Light, Stage Light, and Stage Light Mono.

While the Portrait Lighting is for stills rather than video, the ad still gives you a sense of what the new feature can do for your photos. Check it out below.

Gimmick or game changer?

What makes Portrait Lighting possible are the smart dual-lens rear cameras on the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, which allow the device to determine the depth of any scene it photographs. Using this depth map and Apple’s new A11 Bionic chip, the handsets are then able to artificially re-light images to make them appear more professional.

The effects can range from subtle — as a way of making sure faces are visible in shadow — to more dramatic — in which subjects look as though they’ve been spotlit against dark backgrounds. While virtual lighting isn’t going to replace the kind of lighting rigs used by professional photographers, it’s definitely a nifty feature that will make everyday photos look significantly better.

Are you excited by Apple’s Portrait Lighting effect? Is it a game changer or a gimmick? Leave your comments below.