12 Curious Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About the iPhone

Every year Apple rolls out a new iPhone, and every year I squint at it like as if it was a spot-the-difference puzzle in the back of a newspaper. From a designer’s perspective, the changes are so subtle they could be mistaken for someone rearranging the living room furniture by moving a single cushion.

So based on our experience from the previous years I’m not expecting anything but minor changes to phone design, camera lens rearrangement, new funky-named colours, and of course, lot of raving about the new faster processors and some other incremental improvements at the expense of the price hike.

However, I decided to be kind this year. Instead of bashing Apple for the lack of innovation, I decided to mention some curious facts about iPhones, which I accumulated over the past 10 years. So here we go …

1. Apple’s 9:41 secret

The time shown on almost all iPhone advertisements is 9:41 AM. This is the exact time Steve Jobs first revealed the iPhone on stage in 2007. Apple’s presentations are timed so that the “big reveal” happens about 40 minutes in, and the displayed clock syncs with that moment. The tradition has continued across product launches, turning it into a hidden “signature” detail in Apple marketing.

2. The “Jesus phone” nickname

When the first iPhone launched, tech journalists and bloggers dubbed it the “Jesus phone.” This wasn’t an official Apple label, but rather a tongue-in-cheek way to describe the almost religious fervour surrounding the device. Long queues, overnight campouts, and cult-like excitement reinforced the idea that Apple had created more than just a gadget—it had built an object of devotion.

3. No “iPhone” name at first

The “iPhone” trademark was originally owned by Cisco, which used it for a line of internet-enabled desk phones. Apple initially unveiled its device under the name without securing rights, prompting Cisco to file a lawsuit. The dispute was quickly settled, with both companies agreeing to share the trademark. Without that settlement, the iPhone could have been forced to ship under a completely different name.

4. Secret Super Bowl debut

The iPhone’s first major advertisement aired during the 2007 Super Bowl. It featured a montage of actors from classic films picking up a phone and saying “Hello.” The ad didn’t even show the iPhone itself, only teasing its arrival. This subtle strategy built mystery and anticipation, ensuring the product had cultural impact even before its release.

5. Sapphire that never came

In 2013, Apple partnered with GT Advanced Technologies to build sapphire crystal displays, which are almost impossible to scratch. The plan was for iPhones to ship with sapphire screens, but the supplier couldn’t meet Apple’s massive production demands. The partnership collapsed, GT went bankrupt, and Apple quietly returned to using strengthened glass from Corning, which it continues to refine to this day.

6. Tiny rare earth magnets

Every iPhone contains rare earth minerals like neodymium, terbium, and dysprosium. These materials are essential for producing powerful yet tiny magnets used in speakers, vibration motors, and camera stabilisation systems. While each phone uses only a small amount, the scale of iPhone production has made Apple one of the world’s largest corporate consumers of rare earth elements.

7. Gold inside every iPhone

Gold is an excellent conductor that doesn’t corrode, which makes it ideal for logic board connectors and circuitry. Each iPhone contains a dusting—about 0.034 grams—of gold. This seems insignificant, but with billions of devices produced, Apple requires tonnes of the precious metal. This consumption has made tech companies like Apple major players in global gold demand, on par with some jewellery markets.

8. “Slide to Unlock” patent war

Apple patented the simple gesture of swiping your finger across the screen to unlock the phone. The company aggressively defended this feature, suing rivals like Samsung and HTC. For a while, “slide to unlock” became a battleground in the global smartphone patent wars. Eventually, European courts ruled the gesture was too obvious to be patented, weakening Apple’s legal claim, though the gesture had already become iconic.

9. The notch controversy

The iPhone X in 2017 introduced a “notch” at the top of the display to house the front camera and Face ID sensors. The design was heavily mocked, with memes comparing it to everything from bathtubs to foreheads. But despite the backlash, many rival brands copied the idea within a year, normalising the notch. It’s now a defining symbol of full-screen smartphones, even as Apple gradually transitions to smaller “Dynamic Island” cut-outs.

10. Hidden barometer

Starting with the iPhone 6, Apple quietly added a barometer sensor. While it was promoted as a way to measure elevation for health apps (like counting stair climbs), the barometer also improved GPS accuracy. By measuring air pressure, the phone could estimate altitude in urban “canyons” where GPS signals are weak. This small addition made maps more reliable in cities and supported features like emergency location services.

11. Bono and the iPod deal

Before the iPhone, Apple and U2 collaborated on a special black-and-red iPod in 2004, with some proceeds going to charity. Bono’s close relationship with Apple helped pave the way for later partnerships, including the infamous 2014 decision to automatically add U2’s Songs of Innocence album to every iTunes account. Instead of being welcomed as a gift, the move sparked global backlash over digital privacy and unwanted content.

12. Oprah’s big moment

In 2007, Oprah Winfrey listed the iPhone on her famous “Favourite Things” list, cementing its place as a cultural phenomenon. Being endorsed by Oprah was enough to boost any product, but the iPhone hardly needed the help—it was already iconic. Ironically, years later Oprah was caught tweeting praise for the iPhone from a Microsoft Surface tablet, a slip that reminded people how even cultural tastemakers sometimes mix up their devices.

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About the author

Martin Tutko is a product designer by trade and a part-time philosopher by hobby. Thinking, researching and doing design since 1998. And as of 2023 also sharing and writing about some of my experiences as a product designer 🧑🏻‍💻🌟