Every time someone doesn't know something, mischievous fate smiles upon you. Vikings love to come to the rescue in such situations. You just need to know what others don't necessarily know. And how many people know the answer to the question of how it happens that your phone "knows" when to rotate the screen by 90 degrees, or how a smartphone stabilizes the image while recording videos? How on earth can you control movement in some games? Nobody knows that. But you do now. This black magic even has a name – it's a gyroscope! Set sail, course for knowledge!
What is a gyroscope in a phone?
A gyroscope in a phone allows you to determine the phone's position in space. It is responsible for pairing the phone's functions with its position – so that using a smartphone remains convenient and of high quality. As the functionality and entertainment value of phones have developed, the role of gyroscopes has grown, and they are now a widely used technology in mobile phones. A traditional gyroscope typically takes the shape of a sphere with axes surrounding it on different planes, upon which ordinary physical forces act. In other words – it's a great prop if you're planning on attending a costume party and intend to embody Nicolaus Copernicus.
How a gyroscope works in a phone
A gyroscope in a modern phone, as is typical with modernity, has been stripped of all romance. They are usually microscopic plates that, suspended in a system, react to physical stimuli related to speed or pressure. Upon sensing any physical change, the plates tremble like a high school student before an oral exam. The vibrations are picked up by sensors, which then, as if on a string, transmit information to the application that controls everything as it should.
How to enable the gyroscope on an Android or iOS phone?
In the eternal conflict between the ultras of iOS and Apple devices and Android enthusiasts, this time the latter can rejoice 👊. To activate or deactivate the gyroscope on an Android phone, simply go to the notification bar and find the Auto-rotate icon (portrait orientation lock button) – the function that allows you to adjust the screen's orientation to the smartphone's position. Activating or deactivating the icon will turn the gyroscope on or off.
How to enable the gyroscope on iOS? The situation is a bit more complicated, but of course, it still doesn't require a doctorate in hard sciences. Turning on the gyroscope will occur when you go to the main menu, navigate to Settings, and select the "Safari" option. Then, you need to choose "Privacy & Security" and complete the formalities by clicking "Motion & Orientation." By selecting this option, you turn on the gyroscope on your iOS phone.
Alright. We know what a gyroscope is, but what could it put on its CV in the skills section? Let's see what a gyroscope is used for in a phone!
What do you need a gyroscope for?
A gyroscope in a phone is a silent hero. Something like Ron Weasley to Harry Potter. Except it's not red-haired. But other than that, exactly the same 🪄.
Getting back to the topic, if your phone has a gyroscope, you have several handy options available:
- automatic screen rotation when the phone's spatial orientation changes,
- image stabilization when recording videos and taking photos,
- in mobile games, moving the phone can move the image (by the way, speaking of games, we have a great offer on mobile internet without a contract!),
- you can move photos in the gallery by moving the phone,
- answering calls by moving the phone.
The gyroscope is also used in virtual reality, pairing our head movements with the image.
Smartphones with a gyroscope — 2024 models
A gyroscope is important, especially if you like to play games on your phone from time to time and if you enjoy testing new technological solutions, such as apps that use phone manipulation or virtual reality entertainment. Stores have quickly picked up on this need and now offer filtering of smartphone offerings based on the presence of a gyroscope and other sensors. A subjective review of currently available models with gyroscopes in various price ranges:
- Samsung -> S20, S21, S22, S23, S24 in classic and "plus" versions
- Oppo -> most currently available models from the Find and Reno series
- Motorola -> ThinkPhone, Edge 30 pro, Edge 40 pro, X40
- Apple -> 12, 13, 14 and 15 in classic and pro, pro max versions
- Google -> Pixel 6 pro, 7 pro, and 8 pro
- Xiaomi -> 13 T Pro, 13 Ultra, 12, Redmi Note 12 Pro, Mi 11
What to do with your knowledge about the gyroscope?
Finally, it's worth asking yourself what to do with such a wealth of knowledge about the gyroscope in your smartphone. In this clever way, we return to the title of our article. The best way to monetize this knowledge is at a family gathering, where you can innocently ask those present if they know how it happens that when you turn your smartphone, the screen also rotates. And bam. All eyes are on the Viking 👀. In the silence, with open mouths and curiosity painting your faces, you can launch into a lecture. Be sure to let us know how it went! 🙂
