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Celine Low chevron_right
Usually, there isn't anything special about watching a movie trailer on our smartphones. The screen is smaller and the energy of the film just doesn't quite match the experience of watching in movie theatres or even our home TVs. But Apple has offered an immersive viewing experience, and all we need to do is hold our iPhones in our hands.
At the recent WWDC, Apple unveiled a special haptic trailer for the highly-anticipated F1 film that lets you feel the thundering roar of an F1 car zooming across the race tracks, an experience previously unimaginable on a phone.
Haptic Trailer? What Is Haptic?
You’ve likely experienced haptic feedback before — those little vibrations your phone gives when you press a button or interact with certain apps. It’s a subtle way of connecting your sense of touch to your device.
But what if that feedback was scaled up to match the intensity of an F1 race? That’s what Apple has done with its F1 trailer.
Available exclusively on iPhones running iOS 18.4 or later, the trailer utilises the iPhone's Taptic Engine — a motor that can simulate a variety of vibrations on command. Unlike simple vibrations, this technology enables more complex, nuanced sensations such as the intense rumble of a car’s engine or the tightening of a wheel gun.
Vibrations In Your Fingertips
Essentially, the rumble is perfectly synced with the action on-screen and we can experience it right in our fingertips. And that's freaking awesome. From the moment the trailer starts, the difference is immediately palpable. Sure, the visuals and audio are enough to get your heart racing, but it's really the vibrations that got me excited for the movie (and I wasn't even aware of it).
When an F1 car hits a curb, your iPhone's Taptic Engine vibrates in rhythm with the roar. A gear shift happens and a quick, distinct thump pulses through your palm with a weight to it. It’s not a jarring, uncoordinated buzz; instead, it feels as though you've put your hands (if that were physically possible) on the hood of the vehicle. You can almost feel the grip of the tires on the tarmac, the sheer force of acceleration, and the powerful braking.
"Every time the engine revs, I feel the intensity," ProductNation's media guest and Creative Director Umar, shared when he experienced the trailer for himself.
You can check out his full reaction here, which got the attention of the official F1 Movie Instagram account — whAT??
Are Tactile Trailers In?
YES — well, I hope so anyway. The potential of this technology is limitless. Imagine a thriller, where every twist is matched by a corresponding jolt. Or a space epic, where each shift in gravity or rumbling spacecraft is felt through your device.
If you own an iPhone with iOS 18.4 or later, this F1 haptic trailer is a must-see. It's a free, short, and incredibly effective way to get your pulse racing before F1 hits the big screen on 26 June. Starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, and directed by Top Gun: Maverick's Joseph Kosinski, you're in for a ride, so buckle up!
If you want to compare watching the trailer without haptics, you can find the regular trailer here:
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