The video of his new song “Dancing in the Flames” by The Weeknd had been wholly shot on an iPhone 16 Pro, just released–a marriage of art and technology never seen before, not only throughout his career but also in the globe of the technology juggernaut Apple. This was disclosed at the new iPhone Apple Event called iPhone 16. The iPhone 16 Pro, with its 48MP sensor, can record up to 4K video at 120 frames per second in Dolby Vision, supported by state-of-the-art audio with features such as Spatial Audio. It really raises the bar when having to prove that even the most ambitious filming tasks are within the grasp of a smartphone.
Directed by Anton Tammi, cinematographed by Erik Henriksson, “Dancing in the Flames” used the most advanced camera features of the iPhone 16 Pro to take viewers on a visually stunning ride back in time with dreamy slow-motion shots. Shooting in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, coupled with Dolby Vision technology, captures high-definition footage that is comparable with footage from traditional cinema cameras. Smooth motion capture and full detail gave every scene a surreal, almost ethereal quality, fittingly matching the haunting atmosphere of the song.
Henriksson lauded the new Apple Camera Interface of the iPhone 16 Pro, which allowed him to adjust exposure, focal length, and other cinematic settings on the fly with just a tap.
“The flexibility this camera offers is a game changer,”
he relates during the behind-the-scenes clip.
“We could explore angles and lighting setups that would have been much more difficult with bulkier traditional cameras.”
This collaboration of The Weeknd with Apple is part of a broader promotional movement with the iPhone 16 Pro to show off its advanced camera and audio features. This fits into Apple’s heavy promotion of such device capacity to handle professional-level productions, and “Dancing in the Flames” serves perfectly to show how smartphones bridge the gap between consumer devices and high-end film equipment.
With advanced sound mixing tools and featuring Spatial Audio, the iPhone 16 Pro made sure the video did not just look great but sounded immersive, too. The spatial audio adds layer upon layer of depth to the sound, truly making it an all-surrounding atmosphere that perfectly fits the mood of the song and striking visuals of the video.
When the music video was released, it went wild, and literally everyone was astonished-from fans to people within the industry-by how such high production value could be achieved from a smartphone.
“I really can’t believe this was filmed on an iPhone,”
one fan commented on social media-a feeling echoed by many who were taken aback with the cinematic quality of the video.
You wouldn’t just call this a win for The Weeknd or Apple; it’s a statement on the shifting landscape of music video and film production. The use of the iPhone 16 Pro fired up conversations on how smartphones democratize access to high-end filmmaking tools. Being told that a professional-grade music video could be shot on a device that was available in your pocket, well, that would not be short of inspiring for aspiring filmmakers.
As film critic Aisha Patel mentioned,
“This video is proof that lines are blurring between professional and consumer-grade equipment faster than ever. It turns on its head this notion that you need a $50,000 camera to produce stunning visuals. It is a wake-up call to the industry.”
The Weeknd filming “Dancing in the Flames” on a smartphone fits within his larger artistic trajectory, as he’s always looking to expand and play with the visual and audio components of his storytelling. His recent projects, such as the TV series The Idol, which he co-created and is also a star of, and his After Hours Til Dawn Tour-called out for its revolutionary visual effects and stage design-represent his urge to innovate.
Equally prolific into music, too, creating with the very best, such as Travis Scott, on the critically acclaimed album Utopia. The Weeknd has always disrupted the status quo-be that via his genre-bending sound or via progressive visual storytelling-to position himself right at the center of moving both the music and entertainment worlds forward.
The success of “Dancing in the Flames” is but a forerunner of things to come. As smartphones, like the iPhone 16 Pro, continue to become even more sophisticated, the means to shoot first-rate, professional-grade content falls within the reach of the average consumer. Such democratization of filmmaking opens doors to legions of would-be directors, cinematographers, and content creators who might not have had the wherewithal to invest in traditional equipment.
As The Weeknd continues to push the boundaries of innovation, it is crystal clear that technology will shape the future of music and visual media. And for the first time, smartphones can capture footage at cinema quality. The world of professional filmmaking stands at the edge of a revolution-one where creativity, not cost, defines what’s possible.
