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

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses: These 17 U.S. States Offer Them or Will Later

Thursday June 19, 2025 11:28 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 and Puerto...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Monday June 16, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Three Months With These 12 New Features

Saturday June 14, 2025 5:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of June 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a...
ios 26 call holding

iOS 26 Beta is Hiding a New Ringtone — Here's What It Sounds Like

Thursday June 19, 2025 7:25 pm PDT by
Apple is hiding a new ringtone within iOS 26. The new ringtone is an alternative version of the existing Reflection ringtone, which has been the default ringtone since the iPhone X was released in 2017. It was discovered within the code for the first developer beta of iOS 26, but it remains hidden, so you will not find it in the list of ringtones available in the Settings app for now. It...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:24 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a few days after Apple provided the betas to developers. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. When the...
new iphone lockscreen ios 26

iOS 26: Five Changes Coming to Your iPhone Lock Screen

Tuesday June 17, 2025 8:46 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has made some additions to the iPhone Lock Screen that aim to make it more customizable than ever. Of course, things can always change before the software makes its way to the general iPhone-owning public, but here are five new things iOS 26 can do on the Lock Screen as of the current developer beta. Widgets Top or Bottom In iOS 18, the row of widgets on your Lock...
General Spotify Feature

Spotify Preparing to Launch Long-Awaited Lossless Audio Tier on iPhone

Thursday June 19, 2025 1:46 pm PDT by
Spotify appears to be gearing up to launch its long-awaited lossless music tier. Chris Messina (via TechCrunch) and Spicetify (via The Verge) spotted new lossless references within the code for Spotify's desktop app and web player. With assistance from Aaron Perris, MacRumors has confirmed that the latest beta of the Spotify app for the iPhone also contains new lossless-related code....
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Apple Says iOS 26 Won't Be Available on These iPhone Models

Tuesday June 10, 2025 6:58 am PDT by
Apple this week revealed that iOS 26 is compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer. That means that iOS 18 is the end of the road for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, which were all released in 2018. However, those devices will continue to receive security updates for at least a few more years. iOS 26 is compatible with the following iPhone models: iPhone 16e iPhone...
Craig Federighi No

John Gruber Reacts to Apple Declining His Interview After His Criticism

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:10 pm PDT by
Every year between 2015 and 2024, at least one Apple executive agreed to be interviewed by Daring Fireball's John Gruber for a special WWDC episode of his podcast, The Talk Show. Last year, for example, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, and top AI researcher John Giannandrea joined Gruber on stage at the California Theatre in San Jose to discuss...

Top Rated Comments

CarAnalogy Avatar
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 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
8 months ago
Shut up and take my money!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)