iPhone 17 Pro Max Buried: Apple's flagship joins America's 250-year time capsule

As part of the celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary, a gigantic time capsule has been buried at Philadelphia's History Park. The capsule contains a wide range of artifacts representing different U.S. states, one of which is Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max in the Cosmic Orange colourway. The time capsule is scheduled to be unsealed in 2276, when the United States celebrates its 500th anniversary.

The inclusion of the iPhone 17 Pro Max has sparked curiosity among tech enthusiasts, raising questions about whether the device will still be functional 250 years from now and how its technology would compare with the smartphones of 2276.

If the handset does remain operational, it could offer future generations a rare glimpse into the digital lives of people in the 21st century. From photos and notes to other digital artifacts stored on the device, the smartphone could serve as a unique snapshot of modern-day life.

More from Tech

Why the iPhone 17 Pro Max?

Beyond its impressive specifications, the iPhone 17 Pro Max represents the current pinnacle of smartphone technology. As Apple's flagship device, it serves as a fitting symbol of where consumer technology stands today, making it an ideal candidate to preserve for future generations.

The iPhone 17 Pro lineup showcases Apple's latest advances in premium hardware and on-device AI. It features a 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits, and Ceramic Shield 2 protection.

Powering the device is Apple's 3nm A19 Pro chipset paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of NVMe storage, delivering the performance required for advanced Apple Intelligence features. On the camera front, the phone sports a triple 48MP rear setup consisting of a wide, periscope telephoto with 4x optical zoom, and an ultrawide sensor, complemented by a LiDAR scanner for enhanced depth sensing and augmented reality experiences.