Glossary

Parallax Wallpaper

A parallax wallpaper creates the illusion of depth by moving the background at a different speed than foreground elements when you scroll or tilt your phone.

Parallax is a visual effect where objects at different distances appear to move at different speeds. On phones, parallax wallpapers shift slightly as you tilt the device or swipe between home screen pages, creating a subtle 3D effect.

On iOS, the parallax "Perspective Zoom" effect tilts the wallpaper slightly based on gyroscope data, making it appear as if you're looking through a window at a scene behind the screen. This is separate from the Depth Effect feature, which is a layering illusion on the lock screen.

On Android, parallax effects depend on the launcher. Some launchers offer wallpaper scrolling (the wallpaper pans as you swipe between home screen pages), which creates horizontal parallax. Third-party apps can add gyroscope-based parallax similar to iOS.

Tip: For the best parallax effect, choose wallpapers that are slightly larger than your screen resolution. Wallpapers with clear foreground/background separation (a subject in front of a distant landscape) create the strongest depth illusion.

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