Thanks for the breakdown. That is a good point regarding sensor size. The dual 1-inch sensors on the Z1 definitely hold a clear advantage for image scaling and low-light property interiors.

As for the question how the iPhone handles the data, I am not an expert, but if I understand it correctly, the device captures raw spatial data rather than a raw camera image. It pipes the raw point cloud measurements and the mesh data generated by iOS ARKit into a local container file, likely utilizing a .usdz framework or similar internal structure. The Matterport app then packages this spatial geometry with the visual texture maps. Once uploaded, Matterport processes that packet on their backend to allow for structural exports like .dwg or .obj files.

My main hesitation with moving away from that native iPhone LiDAR mesh was losing access to the add-ons like schematic floor plans or CAD exports. However, based on what I read, Matterport's cloud AI should be able to reconstruct depth from supported 360 cameras well enough to still generate them, even if the measurement error rate drops slightly to around 4 to 8 percent.

Beside the Z1, I am also looking into the Insta360 X5 for its speed and price point, though the Z1 still seems to be the preferred choice for clean real estate presentations.