Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max will be placed in a time capsule by the America250 project at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia. The capsule is scheduled to be buried this year and remain underground for 250 years until it is opened in 2276. America250 selected the iPhone because it symbolizes American innovation in handheld computing, photography, and connectivity.

The time capsule will also contain additional items meant to represent a snapshot of the United States, and it will be sealed for the full quarter‑century period. Organizers noted concerns about the iPhone's battery survivability and the potential for chemical reactions over the long term, but no definitive solution was provided.

Apple is known for extensive durability testing of its devices, including water, dust, and salt exposure, but the organization has not conducted a test for 250‑year underground storage. The capsule will be opened in 2276, when historians are expected to assess the iPhone as a relic of early 21st‑century technology.