Apple, known for its innovations in the mobile technology market, with its iPhones, maintains strict confidentiality about its development processes. However, an iPhone prototype has recently been discovered that could reveal one of its most experimental projects.
The YouTube channel AppleDemoYT has shown a video of this rare device, nicknamed the “Vesica Piscis iPhone,” found at an electronics recycling facility. Although it does not feature the iconic apple logo, its peculiar design and unprecedented features indicate that Apple may have used this model to test haptic button technology.
The device, named “Vesica Piscis” because of the geometric shape that appears on its casing, has a symbol reminiscent of two intertwined crescent moons. This mathematical figure, known as vesica piscis, has been used in previous Apple prototypesas in the first version of AirTags, and is a symbol recognized for influences in art and architecture. It is possible that Apple has chosen this emblem instead of the traditional logo to differentiate the prototypes intended exclusively for internal testing.
In terms of hardware, the prototype combines elements of the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro, although it contains unique parts that do not belong to either of these models. The most notable feature is the absence of traditional buttons: the volume and power buttons are not physically pressed, but could be designed to integrate technology of haptic feedback. Although the iPhone 15 was rumored to introduce these touch buttons, Apple ultimately decided not to implement them, making this prototype even more interesting.
Among the peculiarities of the device, the presence of a single volume button also stands out, instead of the usual two, as well as a shorter SIM tray secured with screws. Inscriptions on the side of the iPhone indicate that the device was in a prototype phase called “Ranger,” suggesting that it could have been used in field tests. It is possible that Apple was evaluating how these new haptic buttons would respond in real use conditions.
Internally, the device is equipped with incomplete components and some, such as the camera, have no real functionality. In addition, it has few internal cables connected to the logic board, of which only one links to the charging port and another to the device’s buttons. The internal arrangement of the elements is a mix between the iPhone 13 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro, with a plate design that differs from both models.
Once turned on, the prototype displays a message about the completion of the microcontroller initialization, and when connected to a Mac, it is identified as “Bender,” in reference to the character from the Futurama series. Although it can be turned on, the device does not respond to any user input.
With a serial number indicating a manufacturing date dating back to May 2021it is speculated that the device was manufactured before the launch of the iPhone 13 Pro, and does not appear to be a prototype of this model, since by then the final design of said device would have already been approved. Although the camera module resembles that of the iPhone 14 Pro, the combination of components makes it difficult to pigeonhole it into a specific model.
