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Quebec Drama Antigang Drops iPhones Over Apple's On‑Screen Rules

Producers say Apple's strict depiction requirements forced a switch to Android to keep the show's fast daily production on schedule.

Overview

  • La Presse reported Tuesday that Antigang's producers at Aetios removed iPhones from the show and now use Android handsets, mostly Samsung Galaxy devices.
  • The production says the change was its decision and not the result of a complaint from Apple, and Radio‑Canada confirmed it generally avoids showing commercial brands without a tied agreement.
  • La Presse detailed Apple's on‑screen conditions, including visible logos, bans on damaged or hacked devices, restrictions on use while driving, and protections for iMessage, FaceTime, AirTags and Voice Memos.
  • Producers said those rules clashed with crime storylines and the series' rapid, daily shoot schedule, making iPhone portrayal impractical for continuity and narrative developments.
  • The move spotlights a wider tension between brand control and storytelling on fast‑turnaround TV and raises questions about on‑screen realism given Statcounter data cited showing roughly 65% iPhone market share in Canada.