Little known reason your iPhone has mysterious hole next to camera lens
There are many features present within the iPhone that go unnoticed or unappreciated by many within the Apple ecosystem, yet there is one tiny detail on the back of the device that continues to mystify those who own the popular device.
Typically you'll find that it's the software inside your iPhone that holds the most secrets, as there are amazing weather features and hidden iOS additions that will enhance your overall experience when using the gadget.
Apple has implemented a number of secret features in the phone's physical design though, and some are a little more noticeable than others - although all contribute to what makes the iPhone so great for many.
One teeny tiny hole on the back of the device has left many puzzled though, and the reason behind its existence isn't necessarily what you might expect.
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What is the tiny hole by the iPhone's camera lenses?
As reported by SlashGear, the tiny hole that's typically found in the bottom right of your iPhone's camera section is actually a tiny microphone - one of four in total on the exterior of the device.
Depending on which model of iPhone your have, you'll typically have anywhere between one and three camera lenses, a flash, and a LiDAR sensor - the latter of which is only available in the Pro models.
Alongside these is a tiny little hole for a microphone, which is there to enhance the spatial audio captured for videos, and it's implicitly part of the reason why so many social media creators now feel comfortable opting for just the iPhone when filming content.
Apple appears to have initially submitted a patent for this design back in July 2020, designating it as a 'microphone module' that would shortly be added to subsequent iPhone releases.
Many have understandably got this confused with a photography feature, perhaps thinking it's something that helps the camera focus or deal with low light scenarios, but few would have imagined that it was just a simple microphone.
In terms of the other sound capturing components across your iPhone, there are two further microphones at the bottom by the charging port that are primarily used for calls, with a fourth and final located next to the front camera hole punch to complete the spatial set up.
One Reddit user expressed their fascination with the camera-adjacent microphone when they accidentally got something stuck in it though, which is perhaps an unintended consequence of it being so small and otherwise inconspicuous.