unboxing
/ʌnˈbɒksɪŋ/
Very CommonA video or post where someone opens a package and reveals the contents for the first time on camera.
The appeal is partly vicarious: viewers experience the excitement of receiving something new without buying it. The first-time reaction matters, so unboxings are almost always one-take reveals.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | iPhone 16 unboxing, first reactions honestly surprised me | The person opened and showed the new iPhone and had an unexpected reaction. | youtube, 2024 |
| 02 | my kid wanted to film the toy unboxing himself, now he has a youtube channel | A child wanted to create unboxing content and ended up starting a channel. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | unboxing the PR package they sent, not sponsored just gifted | Opening a brand-sent package on camera and clarifying the nature of the arrangement. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 04 | watching unboxing videos at 2am is genuinely a hobby at this point | Late-night unboxing content watching has become a regular habit. |
Use it when
- Recording yourself opening a package for the first time on camera.
- Describing a video where the packaging and reveal are the content.
- Reacting to a new purchase or gift on social media.
Do not use it when
- You already opened the package and are now reviewing it.Use “review” instead.
- You are showing multiple purchased items without a first-reveal focus.Use “haul video” instead.
Unboxing vs haul video
unboxing
Unboxing is about the reveal moment of one package. The packaging and first impression are the content.
VS
haul-video
Haul video shows multiple items from a shopping trip, often already opened and laid out.
Origin and context
Unboxing videos emerged on YouTube in the late 2000s, initially for tech products. The format grew rapidly as viewers found the reveal experience compelling even for everyday consumer goods.
- First seen
- late-2000s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/unboxingUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0