Building a smartphone from scratch is a significant challenge, but the task becomes even more daunting when the phone is scaled up to 100 times its usual size while maintaining its core functionalities. YouTubers Matthew Perkins (DIY Perks) and Arun Maini (MrWhoseTheBoss) took on this ambitious project by creating a working replica of an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Their creation, measuring 6.74 feet in height and weighing 440 pounds, earned them a Guinness World Record for the largest working smartphone.
The construction process began with the screen, a major component requiring the conversion of an LG Signature 88-inch OLED TV into a responsive touchscreen. Perkins achieved this by commissioning a custom touch foil the size of the TV screen, which was then attached using optically clear glue UV epoxy. This step was crucial in replicating the iPhone’s display functionality on such a massive scale.
Next, Perkins faced the challenge of fitting oversized versions of the phone’s internal components into the large frame. This included the speakers, camera array, volume and power buttons, and the special function button.
YouTubers Create Guinness World Record-Breaking Giant iPhone 15 Pro Max Replica
An aluminum frame with cross-shaped support was built to house these components. To mimic the iPhone’s telephoto lens, Perkins used high-end cameras like the Canon EOS R5 and Sony RX10 Mark 4. The frame was also designed to be mounted on a scaled-up phone stand to allow for rotation without excessive strain.
While the team successfully replicated most of the iPhone’s physical features, they could not reproduce Apple’s closed-source iOS operating system.
Instead, they used Android’s Bliss OS to simulate the iPhone’s home screen with a themed skin and included Flappy Bird, a game unavailable on real iPhones for nearly a decade. This choice allowed them to maintain a semblance of the iPhone experience while benefiting from Android’s open-source flexibility.
Despite its size, the oversized phone proved to be fully functional. Maini and his friends tested the phone in various real-world scenarios, finding that it could perform tasks such as tap-to-pay transactions, sending emails, and making video calls.
The project, which cost around $70,000, demonstrated impressive functionality but also highlighted the bravery required to use such a massive device in public without a protective case.
