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From the POV of the user it's much more "a photo" than a video. It just gives you a bit of extra context and ability to pick your key frame.

It’s the animated photos from Harry Potter.

It’s a fun gimmick especially with kids as 2 seconds goes from not seeing you to noticing and lighting up with a smile.

I agree, they capture a moment in some ways better compared to a static photo. Not replacement but a nice feature on their own.

> It’s the animated photos from Harry Potter.

That's what I was picturing. I'm glad my impression isn't far off. Perhaps it's a "you have to use it to understand" sort of thing, but I truly struggle to see the value.

It doesn't matter, though. I don't use iPhones and even if I did, that I don't understand it is meaningless.

A two-second video is pretty pointless. But a photo that incidentally moves a little bit is often charming.