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
112 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
112 months ago
How about some real life lighting?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JM Avatar
112 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)
112 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
112 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
112 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

Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps Feature

Ads Coming Soon to Apple Maps

Friday August 14, 2026 8:29 am PDT by
As reported by MediaPost, businesses in the U.S. and Canada can buy Apple Maps ad slots starting today. An introductory offer provides advertisers with a 15% credit towards future ad spend, on up to $1,000 per month of spend over the first year. The ads do not appear to be visible in Apple Maps just yet, but they should be rolling out soon, as Apple previously stated that the ads would go live ...
Apple Watch ECG

Apple Watch Alerted Runner to Serious Heart Problem

Thursday August 20, 2026 8:58 am PDT by
In a new ad shared on its YouTube channel today, Apple highlighted how the Apple Watch alerted an athlete named Connor to signs of atrial fibrillation. Apple said doctors later uncovered that Connor had a congenital heart condition, which resulted in him having open-heart surgery, so the Apple Watch potentially saved his life. After noticing he had a very fast heart rate while training for a ...
apple maps ads live

Apple Maps Ads Are Here, and There's No Way to Turn Them Off

Tuesday August 25, 2026 1:40 pm PDT by
Ads in Apple Maps are live in the United States and Canada, which means iPhone and iPad users will see them when searching for locations and when viewing Suggested Places. Apple announced plans to bring ads to the Maps app in March, and said the feature would roll out starting in late summer. Apple confirmed to 9to5Mac that ads began showing up for users over the last few days, with ad...