Apple makes use of a wide range of take a look at units and prototypes when it’s contemplating new iPhone options, and one such take a look at machine was not too long ago found by AppleDemoYT, who shared a video at this time. This uncommon prototype iPhone was initially sourced from a facility that recycles electronics.
The “Vesica Piscis” iPhone is exclusive as a result of it does not have an Apple emblem, and it as an alternative a logo that appears like two crescent moon shapes. It is a image that has been seen on prototype Apple units earlier than, particularly an early model of the AirTag. The form that Apple is utilizing is a mathematical form shaped when two disks with the identical radius intersect, known as vesica piscis in latin. It is a image that has influenced every little thing from structure to artwork.
It seems to make use of elements from the iPhone 13 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional, although it additionally has elements that belong to neither of these iPhones. There are quantity and energy buttons that don’t click on when pressed. Apple is identified to have labored on buttons with haptic suggestions for the iPhone 15, however it’s not a characteristic that ever materialized.
There’s a single, mixed quantity button relatively than separate buttons, and a modified SIM tray that’s shorter than regular and secured with screws. Engraving on the amount button facet means that the machine was at a “Ranger” prototype stage and was used for area testing.
Among the inside elements, such because the digital camera, are non-functional and look like placeholders, and there are a minimal variety of inside cables connecting to the logic board. One cable connects to the charging port and one other connects to the buttons on the machine. The logic board itself has a novel format that may be a cross between the iPhone 13 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional.
When turned on, the iPhone shows a message about microcontroller initialization being accomplished, and when linked to a Mac, it’s labeled as “Bender,” which appears to be a Futurama reference. It doesn’t reply to enter.
Based mostly on the serial quantity, it seems the machine was manufactured in Might 2021, which predates the iPhone 13 Professional. It doesn’t appear to be an iPhone 13 Professional prototype, although, as a result of the iPhone 13 Professional would have already been finalized. The digital camera bump is much like the iPhone 14 Professional, so it may very well be a 14 Professional, however the mixture of elements makes it troublesome to establish.
AppleDemoYT speculates that it’s a take a look at machine for experimental options relatively than a prototype for a particular iPhone mannequin, and it could have been designed to check haptic button expertise.
No matter it was used for, the Frankenstein iPhone offers an fascinating have a look at a few of the testing that Apple does when contemplating new options.
