Present Like a Pro: Your Ultimate Guide to Crafting Unboxing Videos

In an unboxing video, a creator opens a product on camera, revealing its packaging, design, and features. With more than 90,000 people searching for “unboxing” on YouTube every month, these videos are more than just a trend—they are a sustainable use of platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as both a source of information for consumers and a marketing avenue for businesses. After all, we’ve each felt the rush of finally tearing into a package we’ve been waiting for; this is the allure of the unboxing video.

Creators bring unique perspectives and personalities to this content—which may stem from their personal expertise, their experience with similar products, or an entertaining demeanor that makes them enjoyable to watch.

Finding ways to break through the saturated unboxing video market may seem difficult, but these foundational tips will help you stand out. 

1. Choose the right product.

• Niche: Choose something that aligns with your passion—whether that’s camera gear, beauty products, or toys—to attract the right audience.
• Notable: Focus on products that are highly anticipated, newly released, in demand, or rare. Ask yourself, “Are people searching for an unboxing of this item? If so, why?”
• Realistic: Consider the price of the product and what’s affordable for your audience. Although luxury items can sometimes be an escapist fantasy, they may generate less curiosity due to their prohibitive cost.
• Sponsorships: If your video is sponsored (or if you’re seeking sponsorship), you’ll want to focus on the brand’s products. For example, a camping gear channel partnering with Black Diamond would focus on their offerings.

2. Create a script.

• Hook: Starting with a strong hook in the first 5–10 seconds will grab viewer attention and make them want to keep watching. 
• Structure: Consider structuring your video by product aspects. For example, unboxing Bose headphones might cover packaging, first impressions, build, specs, testing, comparison to AirPods Max, and final thoughts on price. Focus on specifics: If you like the packaging, what stands out—the material, design, or graphics? Does a shoe feel cheap due to the stitching, sole, or grip? 
• Call to action: A huge way to gain viewers is to encourage engagement with a call to action, such as, “Would you use the iPhone’s Cinematic mode? Let me know in the comments.” If relevant, include affiliate links, discount codes, or purchase info. This will help draw consumers back to your channel for opportunities on future products while giving you increased income revenue potential.
• Riff: Leave room to improvise. The best unboxing videos feel like a shared adventure, not a formal product review—so hit the beats of your script, but don’t be afraid to go off the cuff if something comes to you. 
• Personality: Whether you geek out on specs or love to bring animated energy to your videos, hone in on what makes you excited about unboxing any product, but specifically this product. Viewers connect with authenticity, so now’s the time to showcase your genuine reactions. 

3. Film properly. 

• Lighting: Proper lighting is key, since it keeps you and the product well-exposed while instantly improving production value. Test how the product looks under your setup, checking for reflections or dullness, and use three-point or ring lighting for the best results.
• Sound: Audio can make or break a video, so use a quality microphone and properly test to ensure clear, professional sound. Many successful unboxing videos blend voiceover for product specs with in-camera audio for real-time reactions. 
• Stability: Whether filming straight-on or overhead, steady shots look more polished, so you’ll usually want to use a tripod for stability. For dynamic angles, experiment with slow zooms, sliders, or POV camera straps.
• B-roll: Shoot b-roll close-ups of the product that you can use to edit later. Film as you go since you can’t repackage the box to perfection once you open it.

4. Edit for maximum impact.

• Pace: Unboxing videos are all about creating value and maximizing the experience in a way that is engaging and shareable. Editing at a natural pace allows you to provide enough information while avoiding boredom.
• Platform: When editing, consider the platform, which may vary for the same product. YouTube typically means making longer videos (5–20 minutes), while TikTok and Instagram Reels require shorter, high-energy cuts (30–60 seconds). 
• Aesthetics: Consider adding graphics to highlight product details or using filters to create a specific vibe.

5. Stay sponsorship-friendly.

• Brand guidelines: If you’re creating a sponsored video, ensure you’re following the brand’s guidelines. Use correct terminology for key features, highlight the talking points the brand lays out, and compare it to other items within the brand’s catalog when possible. 
• Disclosures: When working with sponsors, prioritize transparency. This isn’t only a requirement by law and FTC guidelines, but it will also help you retain the trust you’ve built with your audience. 
• Balance: Working with sponsors requires both honesty in your review and professionalism to maintain future opportunities. Be truthful about the product, whether praising or critiquing it. Your constructive criticism is valuable to the brand, which isn’t only paying for visibility but for your perspective on ways to improve.

The creators of these unboxing videos have found their own unique way to stand out due to their production quality, knowledge and expertise, and/or distinct personalities.

Marques Brownlee

With nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, Brownlee has become one of the most famous creators in the tech unboxing world (and the unboxing genre in general). In this iPhone 16 unboxing video, we see unconventional POV shots, clean graphics of Geekbench 6 scores for each iPhone to easily compare between models, and thoughtful commentary highlighting product features compared to previous iPhones.

James Bruton

As a former toy designer and general robotics, electrical, and mechanical engineer, Bruton leads with his expertise and raw enthusiasm when unboxing toys like the Star Wars BB-8 figures. What he may lack in flashy video production, he more than makes up for with expert knowledge of the field. Bruton has drawn over 4 million views to this video because of his ability to analyze, break down, and communicate the engineering and mechanics of each BB-8, determining what makes them fun (or not).

CKN Toys

While Calvin and Kaison of CKN Toys don’t dive into features or technical specs, they clearly demonstrate what they love about the toy, which is the best way to communicate with their audience—other toy-crazed kids. Instead of explaining how the Hulk breaks out of its Iron Man suit, they show you with unfiltered enthusiasm.

Monet McMichael

TheReportOfTheWeek

Run by the unapologetically authentic John Jurasek (aka ReviewBrah), this is perhaps one of the most iconic review channels on YouTube. As shown in his review of Zaxby’s MrBeast Box, Jurasek has resisted the quick-cut pace of so many YouTube unboxing videos today. Instead, he opts for a keep-filming style, allowing raw moments to unfold as he unboxes.