Apple Debuts New 'Balloons' Ad Focusing on New iOS 10 Screen Effects Feature in Messages - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Debuts New 'Balloons' Ad Focusing on New iOS 10 Screen Effects Feature in Messages

Apple today shared a new television ad on its YouTube channel, designed to introduce people to the new Screen Effects feature in iOS 10. In the minute-long spot, a sole red balloon drifts through mountains, over the sea, and through hilly terrain to reach the city, where it's joined by hundreds of additional balloons floating through the streets.

The shot pans to an iPhone user who receives a "Happy Birthday" message, where balloons fill up the screen to accompany the text. It ends with the tagline "Expressive messages on iPhone 7. Practically magic."


Introduced in iOS 10, Screen Effects are designed to make the messages experience more emotive, personal, and fun. Screen Effects temporarily alter the look of the Messages display with full screen animations that play alongside text messages. There are several animations, ranging from balloons and confetti to lasers and fireworks.

With certain keywords like "Congratulations!" or "Happy Birthday!" Screen Effects play automatically whenever the relevant text phrase is sent to an iPhone user who has iOS 10 installed.

Related Forum: iOS 10

Popular Stories

airpods pro 3 video ad

Apple Touts 'World's Best' AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancellation in New Vini Jr. Ad

Thursday June 11, 2026 10:25 am PDT by
Apple today shared a new ad highlighting AirPods Pro 3 Active Noise Cancellation. The ad stars Vini Jr., a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team, and it arrives as the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway. In the spot, Vini Jr. dances through the streets to music only he can hear. Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak shared the video on social ...
apple world surf league video

Apple Shares Video on How Pro Surfers Use Apple Watch During Competition

Tuesday June 23, 2026 9:57 am PDT by
Apple today shared a video showing off the Apple Watch in use at the World Surf League Championship Tour, with surfers describing how they use the watch when competing. Surfers can be hundreds of meters away from the beach during competitions and can't hear announcements over the sound of the water and the wind. The World Surf League has adopted the Apple Watch to solve the problem, linking...
iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Thursday July 2, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
If you pay for certain iCloud+ storage plans beyond the 5GB that Apple offers for free, you will receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. A summary of the two new iCloud+ perks on iOS 27:Increased daily usage limits for some new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. HomeKit Secure Video cameras receive generated video...

Top Rated Comments

LordQ Avatar
127 months ago
Wow, that ad was brilliant.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
127 months ago
Nice homage to "The Red Balloon" an absolute classic french film from 1956. If you enjoyed this you have to see the original it really is magical!
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nautilus007 Avatar
127 months ago
I find apples new ads to be stupid. Honestly, my favorite was the retina macbook pro ad they ran years ago for the 15 inch. short sweet and to the point.


Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
127 months ago
Apple's ads been on point lately, amazing!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
127 months ago
People really like this that much? Not to be the antagonist, I don't want to be "that guy" but it was far too emo for my taste. Like come on.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
127 months ago
Awwh. That's a really nice advert.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)