Rare iPhone Prototype Hints at Apple’s Experimentation with Haptic Buttons
Apple Inc. has a long-standing reputation for experimenting with new iPhone features, often through the use of secret prototypes. Recently, a curious prototype has emerged, stirring excitement among tech enthusiasts. This unique device, highlighted by AppleDemoYT, was uncovered at an electronics recycling center.
iPhone “Vesica Piscis”Prototype (Pre-PROTO/DROP Stage). It has completely unique hardware and a disguised logo on the back. This may very well be one of the most unique modern Apple prototype devices I’ve ever seen. It’s a model between the iPhone 13 and 14 Pro. #appleinternal pic.twitter.com/YlCia5gYm8
— Apple Demo (@AppleDemoYT) November 9, 2024
The “Vesica Piscis”Prototype Explained
Dubbed the “Vesica Piscis,”this particular iPhone prototype bridges the gap between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 Pro, boasting striking modifications. One distinct feature is the absence of the traditional Apple logo, replaced instead with a unique symbol known as the Vesica Piscis, which traditionally signifies the intersection of two circles, representing concepts of unity and creation.
Features of Interest
This prototype is notably marked as a “RANGER”model, indicating extensive durability testing. The “DROP2.5″designation suggests it endured drop tests from heights of up to 2.5 meters, aligning with Apple’s rigorous durability standards.
Another remarkable design element is the volume control, which has been transformed into a single elongated button—signifying potential alignments with Apple’s rumored “Project Bongo.”This initiative is reportedly focused on innovating haptic feedback technology, hinting that the prototype serves more as a developmental device rather than a finalized product.
Unique Identifiers and Internal Components
The device powers up with a status message indicating “MCU Init Done,”signifying that its microcontroller is operational. Interestingly, within macOS System Report, the prototype is referred to as “Bender,” presumably an Easter egg nod to the animated series *Futurama*.
Examining its internals reveals a hybridization of parts between the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro. Notably, the logic board deviates significantly from previous designs, and some components, like the cameras, appear to be non-functional placeholders made from clear plastic, mimicking their authentic counterparts.
Origins of the Prototype
Unlike other prototypes that may leak from Apple’s internal channels, this particular model was discovered on a Chinese marketplace called “Xianyu.” The seller, unaware of the item’s significance, indicated that it originated from an electronics recycling facility, saving this intriguing chapter of Apple’s design history from a fate in a landfill.
While it remains uncertain whether this device was intended to be an iteration of the iPhone 14 Pro or simply a testing platform for emerging haptic features, it undoubtedly stands out as one of the most distinctive Apple prototypes unveiled in recent years.
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