It was a unique prototype with haptic buttons

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A YouTuber wanted to buy a used iPhone. But he was amazed when he held a very special model in his hands, which was never officially released and was probably never intended to be made public.

The YouTuber Apple Demo specializes in prototypes of various older and newer devices in his videos. He wanted to buy a used, normal iPhone for his current video on YouTube. In a video on YouTube, he explained that he purchased the device on Xianyu. This is a Chinese sales site that specializes in used items.

And this is where the strange things started: The seller himself didn’t know much about the device on offer, except that it had been found in a recycling plant for electronic products and then ended up on sale.

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An old prototype from Apple with haptic buttons

What is so special about the device? When the YouTuber examined the iPhone, he realized it was a prototype. What’s special is that it doesn’t show the Apple logo, but rather two circles on top of each other.

This figure is known by the Latin name vesica piscis (in English: fish bladder). It is not the first time that Apple has used them for its prototypes, for example they were seen on one of the first versions of the Airtag:

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Which model is it? There is also a problem here because the assignment cannot be clearly defined. The French magazine Jeuxvideo.com explains that the model has similarities with two iPhones:

  • According to the serial number, the device was manufactured in May 2021, before the iPhone 13 Pro.
  • However, the shape of the camera is similar to that of the iPhone 14 Pro, so it could be a 14 Pro.
  • The iPhone 13 Pro appeared in stores on September 24, 2021, and the iPhone 14 Pro almost exactly a year later on September 16, 2022.

    • Why does the prototype exist? This can only be assumed, as Apple never officially releases its prototypes and this device was also supposed to be destroyed before someone fished it out of the recycling station. And this device also had a specific purpose: it was supposed to test a new type of button: Instead of having two clearly separated buttons like in the last models, there is a combined haptic volume button here.

    Does the prototype start? The prototype that the YouTuber bought used here cannot be switched on. It is therefore not possible to check which system is installed. However, the YouTuber explained that if you connect the model to a Macintosh, then it will at least be recognized by the name “Bender”: Some other Apple developer boards are referred to as “BENDER boards”.

    Elon Musk wanted to use a specific device from Apple for his purposes: He wanted to monitor his servers with so-called AirTags. But he overlooked a restriction that Apple has placed on AirTags. Because he can only link a maximum number to his Apple ID. More about this directly on MeinMMO: Elon Musk bought hundreds of AirTags from Apple in order to be able to monitor his servers – but he overlooked an important detail

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