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
111 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
111 months ago
How about some real life lighting?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JM Avatar
111 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)
111 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
111 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
111 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

apple watch rescue

Apple Shares Apple Watch SOS Success Story

Tuesday July 21, 2026 9:26 am PDT by
Apple today highlighted the SOS feature in the Apple Watch, publishing a short video featuring a man named Phil, who crashed while mountain biking. Phil was biking with his two young children when he had an accident and was knocked unconscious. His Apple Watch detected the fall, calling emergency services and alerting his wife. He ended up breaking his collarbone and seven ribs, but was...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...