Apple’s Secret Camera Project

this is next level.

Author

Brandon Butch
June 20, 2025 • 📖 Read time: 10 minutes

In partnership with

Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

  • Apple’s secret camera project

  • The next MacBook redesign

  • & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Are you a fan of the iOS 26 redesign?

Here were my favorite replies:

Yes - “I really like the new design. I love the blurred elements and the current version of iOS and then being replaced by this glass that adapts and transforms is very beautiful. I think the glassy elements make it feel refreshed but familiar. I showed this update to my non-tech enthusiast friends and they thought it was beautiful.”

No - “Using iOS 18, I’d already felt Apple was losing their touch and attention to detail. Seeing this new design has pretty much confirmed it for me. Sure, the new liquid glass effect is pretty, but the more I see of iOS 26, the more careless it feels. Not to mention, there’s cases where text is bordering on illegible. I’m sure they’ll make tweaks throughout the beta stage and it’ll probably look better once it officially releases, but as it is now, I’m not a fan. I plan to join the public beta as soon as it’s available this year because I want to submit as much feedback on it as possible.”

This week: Did you install iOS 26 Beta 1 yet? Why or why not?

Did you install iOS 26 Beta 1?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

🗞️ The Latest

🎥 Apple’s Secret Camera Project

Wired

Apple developed a custom camera using iPhone components to capture high-speed footage for its upcoming film "F1: The Movie." Here’s how and why it’s so fascinating!

  • Apple replaced standard F1 broadcast cameras with a bespoke camera module engineered around an ‌iPhone‌ camera sensor.

  • Why? Well, because traditional broadcast cameras weren’t cinematic enough.

  • These custom modules included a 48MP sensor (likely from iPhone 15 Pro), an A-series chip (likely A17 Pro), an iPhone battery, and a built-in ND filter for better exposure control.

  • It ran a custom iOS firmware to capture the footage in ProRes Log, giving editors full control over dynamic range and color grading.

Custom iPad app

  • A custom iPad app was built to control the camera via USB-C. This allowed for adjustments to frame rate, exposure, white balance, etc. No wireless radios were used, per F1 rules.

  • Apple rigorously tested the system to withstand extreme shock, heat, and vibration, exceeding the durability of standard F1 gear.

  • POV footage from real races (in the 2023 & 2024 seasons) will appear throughout the film, blending seamlessly with traditional shots from the movie set.

  • This project also directly led to two iPhone 15 Pro features: Log video and ACES color workflow support.

  • While the iPhone didn’t do all the heavy lifting alone, this move puts Apple even deeper into high-end film production and tool development.

  • The F1 movie joins other films shot on iPhone, like Tangerine and 28 Years Later, showing how far smartphone cinematography has evolved.

  • F1: The Movie hits international theaters on June 25, and debuts in the U.S. and IMAX on June 27.

  • On a related note: Apple's infamous Shot on iPhone advertising campaign just won a Grand Prix award for Creative Effectiveness at the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity!

My take: It’s wild that the camera in our pocket is powerful enough to shoot a major Hollywood film. The best part? When Apple pushes the limits like this, we benefit. ProRes Log for video might’ve never come to the iPhone if it weren’t for this experiment.

Together with The Rundown AI.

Stay up-to-date with AI

The Rundown is the most trusted AI newsletter in the world, with 1,000,000+ readers and exclusive interviews with AI leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Demis Hassibis, Mustafa Suleyman, and more.

Their expert research team spends all day learning what’s new in AI and talking with industry experts, then distills the most important developments into one free email every morning.

Plus, complete the quiz after signing up and they’ll recommend the best AI tools, guides, and courses – tailored to your needs.

💻 Apple’s MacBook Redesign

Apple is expected to fully redesign the MacBook Pro in 2026, marking five years since its last major revamp. Here’s the latest.

  • The biggest change will be the move from mini LED to OLED. This will offer better brightness, contrast, and color accuracy.

  • This won’t just be any OLED, though. Apple is expected to borrow the same Tandem OLED tech from the iPad Pro, which stacks two RGB layers for more brightness and improved display longevity.

  • The notch may be going away, replaced by a smaller hole-punch camera cutout. This is said to be similar to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island.

  • Apple is also focusing on delivering the thinnest and lightest possible device without compromising on battery life or major new features.

  • Another possibility is cellular connectivity using Apple’s second-gen 5G modem chip with mmWave. This would be a game-changer.

  • Under the hood, we’ll see the debut of the M6 chip family, built on TSMC’s 2nm process. This should be a solid improvement for both performance and efficiency.

  • Models will likely include M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max versions in both 14-inch and 16-inch sizes.

My take: The MacBook Pro got thicker and heavier with the last redesign in 2021, so I’m expecting the opposite this time around. It seems that Apple is continuing the trend we saw with the iPad Pro: make everything thin and light. And honestly, I’m all for it.

As for features, the one I’m most excited about is cellular connectivity. It’s been at the top of my Mac wishlist for years and would make working on the go so much easier.

Let’s hope this redesign happens in the first half of next year!

📰 Quick Bites

🎨 Set Wallpaper

If you can’t see the wallpaper below, just sign in. It’s only available to free subscribers.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

  • • 50% off all wallpaper collections
  • • Access to private Discord
  • • Bonus weekly wallpaper
  • • Q&A section

Reply

or to participate.