Did Olivia Rodrigo Really Use an iPhone 15 to Shoot a Music Video? Sort Of

Olivia Rodrigo’s newest video was shot on an iPhone 15 — well, sort of. It takes a lot of high-quality equipment to produce a music video.

Apple knows its iPhone 15 Pro Max camera is news-worthy, which has led to the company making a big deal out of its potential during its ‘Scary Fast’ event on October 30. That event, much like Olivia Rodrigo’s latest music video, was shot “entirely using an iPhone 15,” but that claim is arguably a generalization, as shown by the new behind-the-scenes video from the company.

Yes, Apple’s event and Olivia Rodrigo’s music video were shot using an iPhone 15 Pro Max — with the help of some very pricy accessories, including studio-quality lighting, SpaceCam rigs, drones, and gimbals. Naturally, Apple can afford to kit out such a studio production, and the company makes no secret of the amount of equipment used.

But riding on the phrase “Shot on iPhone” is reductive, implying the phone is the star of the entire show. iPhone photography and videography has undeniably come a long way in the last 15 years since the first device’s launch, replacing many a camera along the way. Still, the sheer amount of gear required for a studio-level shoot means it’ll still be quite a while before the iPhone becomes the go-to for video directors.

Olivia Rodrigo’s “get him back!” utilizes iPhone 15 Pro features like Pro Res 4K Log and the use of USB-C drives when recording videos. It does a stellar job of showcasing the new features available on the iPhone 15 — but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? While it’s a music video for sure, the piece also serves as an ad for Apple, shot by director Jack Begert, known for his work with the likes of Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar in collaboration with Apple.

This isn’t the first time the 20-year-old Rodrigo has teamed up with Apple to promote their new hardware. Her music video for “brutal” in 2021 was edited entirely using an iPad. The singer also shared a series of videos on social media for her fans, showing them how to use the Procreate app on iPad to make new filters for TikTok. She’s also partnered with companies like Instagram, Adobe, and Linktree.

Olivia Rodrigo embarks on a 57-date tour produced by Live Nation, kicking off next year.