These YouTubers Turned an 88-Inch TV Into an iPhone

To celebrate his YouTube channel surpassing the 19.3 million people that subscribe to Apple’s channel, Aru Maini, otherwise known as Mrwhosethesboss, had something big in mind. He commissioned fellow YouTuber Matthew Perks (DIY Perks) to build the world’s biggest iPhone.

One year and $70,000 later, the duo had created a fully functional, 440-pound iPhone!

Perks started with an 88-inch 8K LG OLED TV and glued a touchscreen layer on top using a process he says mimics that of touchscreen manufacturers. This was easier said than done, but the result was a flawless, factory-level finish.

In order to get the touchscreen to work, Perks had to do “ironically, the most un-Apple thing ever.” Given how Apple keeps its hardware and software “locked down,” he used a custom Android product called Bliss OS that can be installed on standard PC hardware and provide full compatibility with plug-in touchscreen interfaces.

Next, Perks fabricated a frame rigid enough to withstand the weight of the TV and all components from aluminum trusses and sheeting designed with SketchUp, a 3D modeling software. The buttons were also milled from solid aluminum.

The guts of this massive creation are comprised of components selected to work perfectly together. Ultimately, Perks claims they provide a performance upgrade over a typical smartphone “by several orders of magnitude.” We don’t doubt it.

Some of the highlights include a built-in $3,000 Canon R5 camera with a 28mm telephoto lens and 45 megapixels, a custom speaker system powered by two quad-channel amplifiers with 50 watts per channel, and a 400-watt studio-grade LED bulb for the flashlight. The “iPhone” is powered by a 2,000-watt “USB” cable Perks refers to as the “USB Pro Maximus” that connects using magnets. The finished product is attached to a fully motorized stand for mobility and safety.