There was a time not so long ago, when it was a really big deal when a movie was shot with a phone. But it’s already been eleven(!) years since Sean Baker shot his feature Tangerine on three iPhone 5s devices. (aside: I used “device” to not figure out the proper way to make ‘5s’ plural.)
However, whenever Apple chooses to show off the cinematic capabilities of their devices, it’s usually done with the help of a lot of expensive lenses, expert lighting, and complicated jibs.
Apple just released a new short/promo, celebrating the Chinese New Year, and it looks, predictably, great. But what’s a bit more surprising this time around, is the behind-the-scenes video released with the short, shows many shots comprised solely of the iPhone, or an iPhone with small cage, or a low-cost lens. In fact, a lot of the behind-the-scenes footage itself is indiscernible from the short, as it is also shot using an iPhone with seemingly no extra bells or whistles. To be clear, there are still some dolly shots and more complex setups, but compared to say 3-5 years ago, the amount of external gear required to make iPhone video look great has greatly diminished.
So while we’ve grown accustomed to phones getting a bit better as camera replacements each year, it looks like it’s also slowly getting easier to pull off those shots without the expensive accessories/kit required in the past.
Here’s a look at Apple’s 2026 Chinese New Year video:
And the accompanying behind-the-scenes short: