An Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max that’s been buried as part of an America250 time capsule is unlikely to work when it’s time to unearth it. America’s Time Capsule, due to be dug up in 2276, includes an iPhone with a Notes app featuring “digital artifacts” for future readers.
However, a Forbes report suggests that the iPhone will be unusable for future generations. The battery is a “fundamental failure point” because lithium-ion batteries degrade over time. The report also suggests that Apple’s “restrictive practices,” such as dropping support for older models, would prevent the phone from being unlocked at all, even if it survives.
That’s assuming humans will even be using wall outlets, chargers and the same kinds of energy supply and voltage in 250 years — and that Apple servers will still be active.
America Innovates is an event co-hosted by Forbes and America250. It’s unclear whether including Apple’s device was intended as a commentary on the company’s “planned obsolescence” business strategy, where products are designed with a limited lifespan.
Representatives for America Innovates did not respond immediately to CNET’s request for clarification.
This was state-of-the-art technology…
Burying technology in a time capsule may be functionally useless for preservation, but still valuable as a cultural mirror. Sure, the hardware will fail long before two centuries pass, but it serves a historical purpose rather than a practical one.
Still, it’s probably useful to include a disclaimer that we honestly believed we were living in the ultimate digital age when the capsule went underground. That state-of-the-art technology will probably be glorified, nonbiodegradable plastic trash in 250 years.
The 900-pound time capsule is also filled with photos, documents and other items from the three branches of the government, as well as from all 50 states and territories. These items include a stainless steel rosary from Puerto Rico and a Pocket Constitution signed by Supreme Court Justices.
Experts warn that time capsules are an ineffective way to preserve information for several reasons, including the presence of groundwater. A 2019 article said that 99% of unearthed capsules are destroyed or, perhaps worse, simply boring.
“Burying something is literally the worst way to preserve it for future generations,” Paleofuture blogger Matt Novak told Mental Floss, “but we continue to do it.”
The iPhone is also not the first Apple product to be buried underground for later digging up. In 2013, a once-lost “Steve Jobs time capsule” buried 30 years before was discovered with an Apple mouse inside. Also included was a six-pack of Balantine beer and a Rubik’s Cube.
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