Rare iPhone Prototype Was Likely Used for Testing Haptic Button Technology

Apple uses a variety of test devices and prototypes when it is considering new iPhone features, and one such test device was recently discovered by AppleDemoYT, who shared a video today. This rare prototype ‌iPhone‌ was originally sourced from a facility that recycles electronics.


The "Vesica Piscis" ‌iPhone‌ is unique because it doesn't have an Apple logo, and it instead a symbol that looks like two crescent moon shapes. It's a symbol that has been seen on prototype Apple devices before, specifically an early version of the AirTag. The shape that Apple is using is a mathematical shape formed when two disks with the same radius intersect, called vesica piscis in latin. It's a symbol that has influenced everything from architecture to art.

It appears to use components from the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, though it also has parts that belong to neither of those iPhones. There are volume and power buttons that do not click when pressed. Apple is known to have worked on buttons with haptic feedback for the iPhone 15, but it's not a feature that ever materialized.

prototype vesica iphone back
There is a single, combined volume button rather than separate buttons, and a modified SIM tray that is shorter than normal and secured with screws. Engraving on the volume button side suggests that the device was at a "Ranger" prototype stage and was used for field testing.

prototype vesica iphone side
Some of the internal components, such as the camera, are non-functional and appear to be placeholders, and there are a minimal number of internal cables connecting to the logic board. One cable connects to the charging port and another connects to the buttons on the device. The logic board itself has a unique layout that is a cross between the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro.

When turned on, the ‌iPhone‌ displays a message about microcontroller initialization being completed, and when connected to a Mac, it is labeled as "Bender," which seems to be a Futurama reference. It does not respond to input.

prototype vesica iphone internal
Based on the serial number, it appears the device was manufactured in May 2021, which predates the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro. It does not seem to be an ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro prototype, though, because the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro would have already been finalized. The camera bump is similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, so it could be a 14 Pro, but the mix of components makes it difficult to identify.

AppleDemoYT speculates that it is a test device for experimental features rather than a prototype for a specific ‌iPhone‌ model, and it may have been designed to test haptic button technology.

Whatever it was used for, the Frankenstein ‌iPhone‌ provides an interesting look at some of the testing that Apple does when considering new features.

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Air Colors Thumb 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Come in These 9 Colors

Friday July 11, 2025 12:30 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will be available in a total of nine color options, according to new information coming out of Asia. The iPhone 17 Air's expected color options. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean blog Naver, accessory manufacturers are now producing camera protector rings for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air in colors to match their...

Top Rated Comments

CarAnalogy Avatar
9 months ago

when connected to a Mac, it is labeled as "Bender," which seems to be a Futurama reference. It does not respond to input.
Love the Futurama reference. Good name, as it doesn't do anything you tell it. It's just there to be shiny and have buttons. And an antenna.


Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gengar Avatar
9 months ago

The symbol is interesting. I kind of thought it looking like the leaf in the Apple logo
Looks like the Mastercard logo to me ?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
9 months ago
Some people owe Ming-Chi Kuo an apology because this was clearly something they were planning and testing, and they changed plans just like Kuo said

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/kuo-iphone-15-pro-models-will-no-longer-feature-solid-state-buttons.2386571/
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sirious Avatar
9 months ago
The symbol is interesting. I kind of thought it looking like the leaf in the Apple logo
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
foobarbaz Avatar
9 months ago
That logo is supposed to preserve secrecy? I don’t get it … If this had an Apple logo, nobody would even take a second look. If anything, the logo draws attention that something is special here.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArrayDecay Avatar
9 months ago
Shut up and take my money!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)