Start without dedicated scanning hardware
Use a smartphone to enter the 3D tour workflow before investing in a scanner or a larger capture setup.
Mobile 3D Virtual Tour Capture
Create 3D Virtual Tours with Just Your Smartphone
No dedicated scanner required. Capture, edit, and share immersive 3D tours with the Realsee app.
A practical starting point for apartments, rental listings, small homes, and quick property documentation.
Why mobile capture
Why Start with Mobile Capture
Phone-based 3D capture lowers the barrier to a complete 3D tour workflow. You can document a space first, then use the Realsee platform to edit, preview, activate, and share the finished tour.
Lower the barrier to creating 3D tours
Mobile capture helps new users create a first tour, learn the process, and decide which projects need higher-end capture.
Fit quick residential documentation
It works well as a starting point for apartments, rentals, small homes, and quick property listing previews.
Useful for listing teams
Real estate agents, property managers, and entry-level real estate photographers can document spaces without adding complex equipment.
Capture first, then refine
After capture, use Realsee to process, edit, preview, activate, and share the finished 3D virtual tour.
A practical first workflow
Phone-based 3D capture is about speed and access. For professional accuracy, use a dedicated capture workflow.
Workflow
How It Works
A simple workflow for creating a smartphone 3D tour without dedicated scanning hardware. Use the official Realsee guides below when you are ready to capture, generate, edit, and share.
Download the Realsee app
Install the app and sign in so your capture projects can be processed and managed in Realsee.
Download appCapture the space with your phone
Move through the property carefully and capture enough points for the space you want to document.
View tutorialUpload and generate the project
Send the captured data to Realsee and make sure you have enough credits before tapping Generate.
View creditsEdit in Realsee Editor
Review the tour, adjust key presentation details, and prepare useful media for your listing or client.
Explore editorShare the 3D tour link
Activate the tour when needed and share the link with renters, buyers, owners, or teammates.
Learn sharingOutputs
What You Can Create
Mobile capture is designed as a fast, accessible way to begin creating listing-ready 3D content. Realsee can generate many professional deliverables from 3D tour workflows, but this mobile page focuses on practical outputs for phone-based capture.
3D Virtual Tour
Publish an interactive tour so viewers can move through the apartment or listing remotely.
Floor Plan
Create a simple spatial reference that helps renters or buyers understand the layout.
Snapshots
Capture useful still images from the tour for listing pages, owner updates, or quick previews.
Space Video
Prepare lightweight visual media that can support listing promotion and client communication.
Panoramas
Use panoramic views to show rooms and transitions in a format viewers already understand.
Shareable Listing Link
Send one tour link to renters, buyers, property owners, or listing teams.
Apartment / Rental Listing
Best Use Case: Apartment & Rental Listings
Mobile capture is a practical starting point for apartments and rental listings. Agents, property managers, and real estate photographers can quickly document a space, create an interactive 3D tour, and share the tour link with potential renters or buyers without needing a dedicated 3D scanner.
- Quickly document small to mid-sized spaces
- Create an interactive tour for listing pages
- Share a link with renters, buyers, or property owners
- Start without dedicated scanning hardware
Capture methods
Mobile vs 360 Camera vs Galois P4
Different capture methods fit different jobs. Start with the workflow that matches your space, budget, and deliverable needs.
Mobile
Easiest way to start.
Best for
Apartments, rentals, small homes, quick listing previews, and first-time Realsee users.
Key advantages
No dedicated hardware required. Low barrier for agents, property managers, and entry-level photographers when convenience matters most.
Limitations
Not the best choice when you need faster production, higher image consistency, professional LiDAR accuracy, or advanced spatial deliverables.
360 Camera
Faster lightweight capture.
Best for
Real estate photographers and listing teams who shoot multiple properties and need a faster capture workflow than phone-only capture.
Key advantages
Faster panorama capture, more consistent image quality, and a lightweight hardware upgrade without moving to professional LiDAR.
Limitations
Better for visual efficiency than professional spatial accuracy. Upgrade when deliverables, scale, or accuracy become project requirements.
Galois P4
Professional LiDAR capture.
Best for
Large spaces, commercial properties, AEC, construction documentation, and professional deliverable workflows.
Key advantages
Higher accuracy, professional 3D LiDAR capture, point cloud workflows, and advanced spatial documentation.
When it matters
Use Galois P4 when accuracy, scale, repeatable production, and professional output matter most.
Field guide
Tips for Better Mobile Capture
A cleaner space, a planned route, enough shared viewing area, and steady point capture help Realsee process a better phone-based 3D tour.
Prepare the space before capture
Tidy the space, put away or cover private objects, turn on all lights, open curtains, and open interior doors. Keep entry doors closed if needed.
Plan your capture path
Start from the entrance and follow a natural browsing path. For multiple areas, capture clockwise or counterclockwise to avoid missing rooms.
Place points where they help stitching
Add capture points about every 1.5-2m where possible, especially at doorways, passages, corners, and transitions between rooms.
Keep enough co-viewing area
Adjacent points should share enough visible area so the system has overlapping visual information for more reliable stitching.
Hold the phone steadily
Keep your arms close to your body and rotate around the phone as if it were on a tripod. Avoid sudden movement while capturing.
Avoid people and interruptions
Keep people out of the capture area. If someone walks in or the device moves, cancel or undo that point and rescan it.
Check each point before continuing
Preview the panorama or model after each point. Delete or manually adjust the point if the result is not good enough.
Save first, generate later if needed
If the network is unstable or mobile data may be used, save the project first and upload or generate later in a Wi-Fi environment.
Use the full tutorial when capturing
For a step-by-step walkthrough, keep the official Realsee mobile capture tutorial open while you prepare and scan the space.
Pay as you go
Pricing and Credits
Realsee uses a pay-as-you-go credit model with no monthly subscription. For Mobile Capture, projects use Generate-to-Activate billing: 1 credit is deducted when you tap Generate in the app, and the generated project includes the first 30 days of Active status.
- Realsee uses a pay-as-you-go credit model
- No monthly subscription required
- Credits can be used to generate, activate, host, or download selected deliverables
- For Mobile Capture, have enough credits before tapping Generate in the app
- 1 credit is deducted when you tap Generate, and successful generation includes 30 days of Active status
- Capture, upload, edit, preview, and storage can be free, but generation or activation may require credits depending on capture method
- Selected downloadable deliverables or add-ons may require additional credits
FAQ
Mobile 3D Tour FAQ
Can I create a 3D tour with just my phone?
Yes. With the Realsee app, you can use your smartphone to capture a space, upload it for cloud processing, edit the result, generate the project, and share a 3D tour link. Mobile capture is the easiest way to start when you do not have dedicated scanning hardware.
Do I need an iPhone with LiDAR?
No. Mobile capture is designed for phone-based capture and does not require you to buy a dedicated 3D scanner first. Device support and results can vary by phone model, lighting, and capture conditions, so you should check each point and preview the tour before sharing.
Is mobile capture good enough for real estate listings?
Mobile capture can be a practical option for apartments, rental listings, small residential spaces, and quick listing previews. For premium marketing, large spaces, or deliverables that require higher spatial accuracy, a 360 camera workflow or Galois P4 may be a better fit.
How is mobile capture different from using a 360 camera?
Mobile capture is the easiest way to start because it uses your phone. A 360 camera can provide better image consistency and faster panorama capture for users who create tours regularly.
How is mobile capture different from Galois P4?
Mobile capture is built for accessibility and speed. Galois P4 is a professional 3D LiDAR capture device designed for higher accuracy, larger spaces, advanced spatial documentation, and professional deliverables.
What can I share after capturing a space with my phone?
After processing and editing in Realsee, you can share an interactive 3D tour link. Depending on the workflow and project settings, you can also create listing media such as snapshots, space videos, panoramas, and floor-plan-style outputs.
How much does it cost to start?
Realsee is pay-as-you-go with no monthly subscription. Capture, upload, edit, preview, and storage can be free, but Mobile Capture uses Generate-to-Activate billing. 1 credit is deducted when you tap Generate in the app, and the generated project includes the first 30 days of Active status.
Can I capture for free?
You can capture, upload, edit, preview, and store projects without a monthly subscription. Credits may be required when generating or activating a project depending on the capture method, and selected downloadable deliverables or add-ons may require additional credits.
When are credits used?
Credits can be used to generate, activate, host, or download selected deliverables. For Mobile Capture, make sure you have enough credits before tapping Generate because generation deducts 1 credit and includes the first 30 days of Active status after successful generation.
How is mobile capture billed?
Mobile Capture uses Generate-to-Activate billing. When you tap Generate in the app, 1 credit is deducted. After successful generation, the project becomes Active for 1 month or 30 days. Additional hosting time, selected downloadable deliverables, or add-ons may require more credits.
When should I upgrade from mobile capture to Galois P4?
Consider upgrading to Galois P4 when you need professional LiDAR capture, higher accuracy, larger-space documentation, advanced deliverables, or a production workflow for frequent client projects.
Start Creating 3D Tours with Your Phone
Use mobile capture when you need the easiest way to begin. Explore Galois P4 when your projects require professional LiDAR capture, higher accuracy, and advanced spatial deliverables.