Apple is stepping foot into the world of movie thrillers with their upcoming F1: The Movie. This movie stars Brad Pitt and is directed by Joseph Kosinski. The film will be full of adrenaline as it dives into the reality of the world of Formula One. But beyond the big Hollywood names, Apple also made a completely new camera to film this movie. The tech giant used a custom camera built using iPhone components to capture race footage in a way that’s never been done before.

Revolutionising Onboard Footage with iPhone Tech

F1 always has those classic cockpit shots that typically use onboard broadcast cameras. These cameras capture the thrill and feel of the moment but often compromise on overall quality. But for this film, Kosinski and Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda wanted the best cinematic feel so the audience gets fully immersed in the film. 

To achieve this, Apple’s in-house engineering team stepped in and created a camera module that looks identical to a standard F1 broadcast camera, but is powered by iPhone internals.

What’s Inside the Custom Camera Module

According to a Wired report, the new module houses components from an iPhone 15 Pro, including the 48MP camera sensor. It also packs the powerful A-series chip and an iPhone battery, all encased within a body identical to F1’s broadcast spec. The module even includes a neutral density (ND) filter to control exposure in bright race conditions. Taking it a step further, the module runs a customised version of iOS, adapted specifically for this filming purpose.

Most importantly, Apple engineered this custom camera to to survive the extreme conditions inside an F1 car, including intense heat, vibrations, and shock from high-speed and braking.

This camera records in Apple ProRes using a log format, meeting the demands of Hollywood post-production. This also allows for richer colour grading and more dynamic visual control during editing. Since it doesn’t support wireless connectivity, Apple took things a notch higher and developed a custom iPad app to connect over USB-C.

It’s clear that Apple is taking F1: The Movie very seriously. The film is set to receive a wide theatrical release, including IMAX screenings. Apple even developed a haptic trailer to build hype for the film, giving fans a proper feel of the movie’s action right in the palm of their hands.

To recall, Apple showcased this movie at the recent WWDC 2025 event. This move perfectly aligns with Apple’s broader push into original entertainment through Apple TV+.