Here are screens from two recent movies where villainous characters use iPhones:
https://productplacementblog.com/movies/apple-iphone-smartph...
https://productplacementblog.com/movies/apple-iphone-4s-smar...
You could just use Apple devices and pay for them, and then Apple would have no say.
My theory, too, is easily falsifiable -- check whether the movies you linked have "promotional consideration provided by" lists that include Apple.
The idea is that most producers want to get paid for using the products in the movie, or want to at least get free products.
99% of the people in the station, including the talent, had no idea. They assumed it was an IT department decision. I'm not sure where the idea came from, but it was told to me by the #2 person in the station.
edit: barrkel posts a comment that links and explains the Trademark law around this. search for it and upvote!
But you don't need permission to say or use trademarks in a movie. Josie and the Pussycats is a famous example: they used a ton of trademarks to make it look like product placement, where in reality they weren't paid for all of the trademarks they used (nor did any of the named brands complain):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josie_and_the_Pussycats_(film)...
https://rodriqueslaw.com/blog/how-use-brands-and-products-fi...
It references some of the existing caselaw. My reading suggests Apple would be very unlikely to succeed in court if they legally challenged a filmmaker for simply giving an iPhone to a villainous character.
>Boss: It looks serious. Those guys are using Macs.
>Technerd: No worries. Macs are second rate systems. A bit slow. A bit inflexible. We'll not have any problems getting control of their systems and out maneuvering the kiddiez.
Bond rapes Pussy Galore and he's such a man that she falls for him and joins his side.
Actual rape.
There was a lot of attentiveness to phones as class signifiers throughout the movie though. The maid's phone has a broken screen, for instance, and she uses an Android. Meanwhile all the rich people have the newest model iPhones in immaculate condition without cases.
On a slight tangent, in my opinion, the best recent representation of phones and villians, was is in the now cancelled show: Ray Donovan; you can spot everything from old school fliphones, Blackberry's, Lumia, iPhones et al. in it's seven series trajectory. Furthermore, somebody on that show is also a watch-nut and likes cars!