Tech gadget prompts for reveals that keep the hardware intact

What makes gadget prompts work

Photograph the device from every side the scenes will show: front, back, the sides, and a close-up of ports, buttons and camera modules. RefVid takes up to 5 photos per product, so choose the five angles that matter most. Any angle you skip will be guessed.

Treat screens carefully. Interface text and icons are re-drawn and rarely match your real UI. Ask for the screen off, a plain glowing gradient, or a reflection, and add the real UI in your editor.

Light for shape. Gadgets read through edge highlights, so use one strong rim light or a long strip light reflected along the body. Flat light makes metal and glass look like plastic.

Length, shape and sound are in brackets before each prompt; they are settings, not prompt text. The prompts call the saved product by its role, such as "the phone".

Studio reveals

Prompt (6 s, 16:9): The phone rises slowly out of darkness, back facing the camera, until it hangs centered in the frame. A thin strip light passes across it from left to right, drawing a bright line over the camera module and the edge of the frame. Black background, faint haze.

Why it works: the moving light reveals shape one part at a time while the phone barely moves. If the camera lenses shift position, add a straight-on photo of the back.

Prompt (7 s, 16:9): The laptop sits closed on a dark desk. The lid opens smoothly to about 110 degrees and the screen lights up with a soft blue gradient. The camera pushes in slowly from a front three-quarter view. Cool rim light from behind, warm practical lamp at frame edge.

Why it works: a plain gradient avoids invented interface text. Keep the opening angle stated; without it, lids sometimes fold too far.

Prompt (5 s, 1:1): The earbud case rests on a pale concrete block. Its lid flips open and the camera tilts down to show both earbuds seated inside. Soft top light, crisp shadow, light grey background.

Why it works: a single hinge motion is easy to keep accurate. Include a photo of the case open, or the inside layout will be guessed.

In-hand and on-desk shots

Prompt (5 s, 9:16): A person raises their wrist to look at the smartwatch, the screen waking with a simple bright clock face. Close-up from the side at wrist height, shallow depth of field, office window light behind.

Why it works: a wrist raise is a natural motion with the watch held flat to camera. If the band warps, frame tighter on the case.

Prompt (7 s, 16:9, sound on): The keyboard sits on a wooden desk beside a coffee cup. Hands type steadily across the middle rows while the camera slides slowly along the keyboard from left to right at a low angle. Warm evening desk lamp, soft key backlight. Sound: quiet, even key clicks.

Why it works: a low slide shows key profile and finish. Expect legends on the keycaps to be approximate; avoid close-ups of individual letters.

Real-world use

Prompt (6 s, 16:9): The action camera is mounted on the handlebar of a mountain bike riding along a dusty forest trail. The camera tracks alongside, keeping the device sharp while the background blurs with speed. Bright afternoon sun through trees, dust in the light.

Why it works: motion blur on the background sells speed while the device stays still in the frame. Keep the mount simple; complex brackets tend to merge with the bike.

Prompt (8 s, 9:16, sound on): The speaker stands on the edge of a pool at dusk. Water ripples beside it as the camera slowly orbits from the side to the front grille. Warm string lights reflected in the water, soft music in the background.

Why it works: the orbit ends on the front, and reflections add depth without extra props. If the grille pattern swims, slow the orbit.

Model notes for hardware

Describe what you want rather than listing what to avoid, which suits screens: "the screen shows a plain blue gradient" is clearer than "no text on screen".

When a device and a second product share a shot, such as a phone and its case, save each as its own product in RefVid and write both saved names in the prompt; up to 3 subjects fit in one shot. A photo of your set can go in as the scene photo.

On Veo 3.1, as of October 2026, according to Google's Veo docs, a shot takes up to three reference images, so for a complex device give it the angles the scene will show.

RefVid keeps each device's angle set as one saved product, so a launch campaign reuses the same references for every scene, in clips of 3 to 15 seconds.