The Apple iPhone 17 Pro has been part of several interesting projects this year. Earlier, it was used during the Artemis 2 mission to share images of outer space with people on Earth. Now, the smartphone has become part of a unique project linked to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. An iPhone 17 Pro in the new Cosmic Orange finish has been placed inside a massive time capsule along with items representing every US state. The capsule will remain sealed until 2276, when the United States celebrates its 500th anniversary. Many people now wonder whether the phone will still work after 250 years or simply remain a historic piece of technology.
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro was reportedly placed in a time capsule that was buried in the United States on July 4 as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The capsule is said to include items from all 50 US states, along with everyday objects that represent life in the present day. The goal is to give people 250 years from now a better understanding of how people lived, the things they used, and how technology looked and worked during this time. The inclusion of the iPhone 17 Pro is meant to show what modern smartphones were like and how advanced technology had become in this era.
The Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max is going into a time capsule for the next 250 years
— icon (5-core GPU) (@iconredesign) July 4, 2026
If only the foldable iPhone came out a year early it could have out-survived every single iPhone that will ever be made in the space-year 2276 https://t.co/DyXmWr5P0L pic.twitter.com/WRbOILqRKe
If the phone survives, people in the future may be able to access its stored content, though its battery is unlikely to last that long. Moreover, it will point out the fact of how much technology evolves by 2276, with the iPhone 17 Pro serving as a representation of the current era.
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The Apple iPhone 17 Pro features a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Not only that but it also provides always-on display support and an anti-reflective coating. To keep the display protected against unexpected bumps and scratches, the makers have also installed Ceramic Shield 2 protection.
Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Apple’s A19 Pro chipset. Furthermore, it’s clubbed with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage. Aside from that, Apple also claims that the device can deliver up to 39 hours of video playback on a single charge, as it comes packed with a 3,998 mAh battery.
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In terms of optics, the smartphone features a triple 48MP Fusion camera setup at the back. It includes a 48MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera with up to 8x optical zoom. Moreover, the device also supports 8K video recording. The iPhone 17 Pro also sports an 18MP camera at the front for selfies and video calls.