MacDirectory 11
APPLE NEWS
THIS 'TESLA' IPHONE X FEATURES A SOLAR
CHARGING PANEL, COSTS $4,000+
f anyone thinks the stock
iPhone X is expensive, a
Russian accessory maker
named Caviar is here to prove
them wrong.
Caviar recently unveiled
a bespoke, Tesla Motors-
inspired iPhone X. The device
is clad in carbon fiber and
gold and it sports a built-
in solar panel and battery.
As you might expect, the
customized handset doesn't
come cheap. Even the least
expensive model will run you
upwards of $4,000.
Like the vanilla iPhone X,
it comes in two variants: a
64-gigabyte model priced at
$4,064 and a 128-gigabyte
model which starts at about
$4,847.
The solar energy-harnessing
components aren't just for
show, either. Caviar said that
the shock-resistant panel can
charge the phone via sunlight
or bright indoor lamps. Other
custom modifications include
a carbon base and a small
solar charge indicator.
Of course, the ability to
charge your iPhone on the run
comes with a tradeoff. The
device is quite a bit thicker
than a standard iPhone X. It's
about 16.2mm compared to
the usual 7.7mm. It's so thick,
in fact, that the protruding
camera bump actually looks
recessed into the case.
The Russian-owned, Italy-
based accessory maker says
that the customized device is
inspired by Nikola Tesla, Steve
Jobs, and Tesla Motors head
Elon Musk.
Caviar seems to be taking
its Musk inspiration seriously,
too. The side of the phone
is engraved with the phrase
"Made on Earth by humans"
— which is also printed on
the circuit board of the Tesla
Roadster that Musk launched
into space earlier this year.
Originally, only 99 iPhone X
Tesla devices were planned,
but now the company says
there are 999 available. One
of them is already taken,
however: Caviar said it is
sending the first model to
Elon Musk himself. It expects
the other iPhone X Tesla
models to end up being used
by "astronauts, prisoners,
(and) people who make great
discoveries on the edge of
human capabilities."
If you want one yourself,
they're currently available
on the company's website.
Shipping is free, and you
won't be charged until you
hand inspect the device
yourself. But of course, there
are much more affordable
options available.
This isn't the first over-the-
top device that Caviar has
made. The firm is known
for its extravagant and
pricey custom phones and
accessories. Last year, it
debuted a Vladimir Putin-
inspired Nokia device that
started at $1,700.
BY MIKE PETERSON
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