Apple's New iPhone X Video Focuses on Selfies Taken With Portrait Lighting - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple's New iPhone X Video Focuses on Selfies Taken With Portrait Lighting

by

Apple shared a new video on its YouTube channel today that shows off selfies taken with the iPhone X.

The 38-second video cycles through a collection of selfies taken by iPhone X owners using the smartphone's front-facing TrueDepth lens system and Portrait Lighting effects. The ad also includes poetry by Muhammad Ali.


Portrait Lighting has been the focus of a few recent Apple videos, including two ads that acted as tutorials for the feature. More recently, one from earlier in January explained how Portrait Lighting offers studio quality lighting effects without a studio, while showing off various examples.

Since the iPhone X launched in early November, Apple has posted videos focusing on many of the smartphone's new features, like Face ID and Animoji. Apple even embraced the phenomenon of Animoji Karaoke in one video, showcasing how iPhone X owners can use the animated characters to lip sync to popular songs and send the clips to friends and family in Messages.

Top Rated Comments

TwoBytes Avatar
115 months ago
They never look like this when I take photos. They must be using real studio lighting to sell fake studio lighting fx...
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
115 months ago
How about some real life lighting?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JM Avatar
115 months ago
What a cool documentary highlighting the problem with our society: our fascination with self, and the technology that enables our....what?.... oh.... commercial for Apple.

Nevermind.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
115 months ago
Not a very good ad, and there's more to the iPhone X than portrait selfies and animoji.

I wish Apple would do some (albeit shorter) follow ups to the "Meet iPhone X" ad which really showcased the device.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
115 months ago
They used a slashed face again in this one. See on the right.
These look horrible. I almost think Apple is doing on purpose. If they keep showing photos like this they will become common place and acceptable to the masses. Zac Hall from 9to5Mac uses a portrait shot for his twitter photo. It looks like someone used scissors to cut around his head and tape it to a black background.
[doublepost=1516567130][/doublepost]
Ooooooh, lookat me. I soooo pretty. I take my picture and look at it over and over. Tell myself how pretty i am and send to everyone so they can tell me how pretty i am. I soooo pretty. Thanks Apple, look I soooo pretty. Can i send you photo too, Apple. I take pretty picture of myself with your phone and you must want to see me too. Ooooh sooo pretty. Mwah, mwah, mwah. Luv-a-ly. Apple need to set up text line, like when facetime first came out so i can share all my pretty me photos with Apple employees in China. We love you Apple, you make such pretty, durable products for professionals, like me. Mwaaaaaaah!
Hmmm...okay. She swiped left didn't she?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JackieTreehorn Avatar
115 months ago
They never look like this when I take photos. They must be using real studio lighting to sell fake studio lighting fx...
I was thinking the exact same thing. I get very good portrait photos when I use the camera on the back. The front camera of my iPhone X....no way. And I do think I know a thing or two about cameras and pictures..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Switch to Safari

Apple Explains Why Chrome Users Should 'Switch to Safari'

Tuesday October 13, 2026 5:29 am PDT by
Apple has launched a new "Switch to Safari" marketing campaign that encourages Chrome users to switch to Safari as their web browser of choice on the Mac. "Safari is a more powerful and private browser than Chrome," says Apple. Apple has a new "Switch to Safari" page on its website that outlines more than 10 reasons that Chrome users should switch to Safari, including faster performance...
apple watch survival video

Apple Shares New Apple Watch Survival Stories

Tuesday October 27, 2026 4:20 pm PDT by
Apple today continued with its "True Apple Watch Story" series, featuring two more people who credit the Apple Watch with saving their lives. In the first video, Morgan tells the story of how her Apple Watch woke her up with high heart rate alerts. She ended up having a kidney infection and was going into septic shock. The second video features a man named Josh, who used the Apple...
apple card apple ad

Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad

Friday November 6, 2026 9:22 am PST by
Apple today shared a new Apple Card ad highlighting how quick it is to apply, get approved, and make purchases. In the spot, a therapist is listening to a patient drone on when a cheap flight pops up on her iPhone. Her wallet is across the room and she can't get up to grab it, so she opens up the iPhone Wallet app, applies for an Apple Card, and is able to purchase a flight within a couple...
Latest Stories
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
Control the Glowing Apple Logo on Your New MacBook Pro
33 minutes ago
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
Apple Shares New 'Apple Card: Apply and Use in Minutes' Ad
3 hours ago
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
Apple Says More Than 100,000 Apps Optimized for iPhone Duo, Here's What's Still Missing
3 hours ago
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
Early Black Friday Deals Kickoff With Steep Discounts on Apple Watch Ultras and More
4 hours ago
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
The MacRumors Show: iOS 27.3 Looks Like a Huge Update
4 hours ago
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
Best Buy's Black Friday Event Begins With Sitewide Savings on Apple, TVs, More
5 hours ago
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
Apple Releasing Yet Another Two New Products Next Week
5 hours ago
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
MacBook Air Drops to Lowest Price in Months With Amazon's $250 Discount
6 hours ago
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
Apple Rumored to Drop the iPhone's Action Button Next Year
6 hours ago
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
Apple's Extended Return Policy Now in Effect for 2026 Holiday Season
7 hours ago
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
Apple Music Classical Updated With New Icon and Refreshed Design
7 hours ago
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
OLED iPad Mini, M6 iMac, and New MacBook Pros Available From Today
10 hours ago
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
Apple Surveys iPhone Duo Buyers About Crease and Camera
20 hours ago
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
Apple's First Touchscreen Mac is Now Arriving to Customers
21 hours ago
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
Claude Gets Personal Finance Feature With Bank Account Linking
22 hours ago
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
Apple Arcade Adds Crossy Road Rush and NBA 2K27
22 hours ago
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
Apple's New HomeView Smart Home Hub: Here's How Much RAM It Has
23 hours ago
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
iPad Mini vs. iPad Air Buyer's Guide: Now Just $50 Apart
1 day ago
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
First iOS 27.3 and macOS Golden Gate 27.3 Public Betas Now Available
1 day ago
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
Apple Announces a New Mac Sales Record
1 day ago
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
Paid $200 for Logic Pro? Apple Says You Won't Get This New Feature
1 day ago
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
Instagram's Edits Video Editor is Now Available on Mac
1 day ago
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
Prevent Siri and Search From Accessing Specific iPhone Apps
1 day ago
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
Best Early Black Friday Deals on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo
1 day ago
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
MacBook Pro PROLED XDR Reviews Are In: Is the Touchscreen Worth It?
1 day ago
Early Black Friday Accessory Deals at Amazon Include TVs, Headphones, and Charging Devices
Early Black Friday Accessory Deals at Amazon Include TVs, Headphones, and Charging Devices
1 day ago
Apple Creator Studio App Updates Rolling Out, Starting With Logic Pro
Apple Creator Studio App Updates Rolling Out, Starting With Logic Pro
1 day ago
Siri AI Waitlist Now Limited to Times of 'High Demand,' Says Apple
Siri AI Waitlist Now Limited to Times of 'High Demand,' Says Apple
1 day ago
See Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro in Action
See Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro in Action
1 day ago
MacBook Neo Shipments Expected to Double in 2027
MacBook Neo Shipments Expected to Double in 2027
1 day ago