📌 In This Deep Dive
The mysterious iPhone commercial actress starring in Apple’s 2026 campaign is actually K-pop icon ROSÉ, and the featured song is her rock single “New Trick.” Shot entirely on iPhone, the ad showcases her anthem for overcoming heartbreak while cementing her place in Apple’s high-profile music partnerships. This breakdown explores the story behind the track, its lyrical meaning, and where it fits among Apple’s most notable pop-star collaborations.
For casual viewers, it’s just a new iPhone commercial featuring a mysterious “actress” sparking curiosity. But anyone plugged into modern entertainment picked up on the real weight of this campaign: Apple is going big for the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, aiming to play a major role in the global music scene too. That’s what effective marketing has always been about, breaking into new cultural spaces through high-impact partnerships.
So it’s worth taking a closer look at what just went down in 2026 and why this new iPhone ad has everyone talking.
Shot on iPhone: ROSÉ’s new song becomes the 2026 Apple commercial
The star of the new iPhone commercial is ROSÉ, and even if you didn’t recognize her at first glance, you’ve almost certainly crossed paths with her over the past few years. She’s one of the biggest K-pop stars on the global stage, and she recently dominated airwaves worldwide with “APT.”, her hit collaboration with Bruno Mars. That song was actually inspired by a popular Korean drinking game, which she taught Bruno Mars herself while writing the track. You can read the full story behind that single in our dedicated breakdown.
ROSÉ is best known as a member of BLACKPINK, one of the most prominent female K-pop groups in the world right now.They’re the ones who recently took over social media with Jump: wild energy, unmatched production quality, and a commitment to songwriting that blends vastly different genres without ever missing a beat.
And now, ROSÉ is set to be remembered as the voice behind the iPhone commercial. The singer released her new official single as part of an exclusive partnership with Apple, featuring a music video shot entirely on iPhone and a snippet that serves as the commercial for the latest model. That way, whether people are watching TV or listening to pop music, everyone will be thinking about the new iPhone.
New Trick: Healing from heartbreak with ROSÉ
Lyrically and conceptually, the new song fits right into ROSÉ’s universe: titled “New Trick,” it’s all about bouncing back after love knocks you off your feet.
The lines featured in the commercial make that clear right out of the gate:
Lovesick, I’ll pick my heart off the floor
New trick, watch this, I’m kickin’ the door
Get out, ka-pow, I know the cure
New trick, watch this, watch this
Love beats us down sometimes. We come out of it shaken, needing time to regain our balance. The rock energy of New Trick aims to be the soundtrack to that recovery: picking ourselves up and kicking down the door keeping us locked inside. Because pop’s current star knows the new trick that actually works for us.
So, the fact that it was shot on an iPhone fits right into that context. The entire official video is essentially a live performance capture, and using an iPhone gives it a level of mobility and flexibility that makes the whole thing feel distinct. We follow ROSÉ in a car, at a skatepark, and end up glued right to the guitars driving the track. In the end, the message lands loud and clear: with that kind of energy, combined with what an iPhone can do… you can’t stop a girl who’s been broken.
At the same time, ROSÉ joins an exclusive club of modern pop stars enlisted by Apple for the “Shot on iPhone” series.It’s a tight group featuring major names and big songs, from Lady Gaga’s Stupid Love in 2020 to The Weeknd’s Dancing in the Flames in 2024, alongside Olivia Rodrigo, NewJeans, and Selena Gomez. Not bad for an artist who still leaves casual viewers asking the innocent question, “wait, who’s the actress in the new iPhone ad?”
