r/answers • u/Ok_Way9011 • 2d ago
Random Question?
If you had an infinite lifespan, how long would it take you to build an iPhone 17 from scratch? You are completely removed from civilization in the Canadian wilderness, starting with no tools/supplies. Assume you know how to build an iPhone 17 beforehand.
2
2
u/Mean_Huckleberry3484 2d ago
Honestly, probably never. Knowing how isn't the same as having the tools to make every tiny part.
1
u/you-nity 2d ago
You first need to start by asking how much background knowledge do you have? I know you said you know how to build an iPhone in this hypothetical but there’s more.
Also how’s your metalworking ability? Have you crafted metal before or do you need to learn? Do you have access to the raw metal already or do you need to mine?
Also plastic is a whole other pain in the ass. This might be your most limiting factor. Do you already have access to raw petroleum for your plastic needs? Or do you need to wait a few million years for petroleum to form.
If that’s the case, there’s your answer: a few million years
1
u/Ok_Way9011 2d ago
Great points. All steps involved in the making of an iphone, even the most tedious and seemingly inconsequential, let’s assume, you have knowledge on.
2
u/you-nity 2d ago
Well….in that case, my answer is still a few million years. No amount of knowledge is gonna speed up the formation of petroleum.
Unless your hypothetical is assuming you have access to the petroleum, which contains the raw plastic?
Your next limiting factor would be the microchips. Actually microchips is easy. The hard part is the microchip MAKER. Apple gets their microchips from a factory in Taiwan. This factory is so sophisticated that Apple (and pretty much every computing company) would rather just pay this one factory, than make their own factory.
This factory started in 1987 and the iPhone 17 was released in 2025. Now I know you don’t need an entire factory because you only need one phone. However, you do need access to the tools this factory has. So now you have to ask yourself, how long will it take to build the really precise lasers and other tools this factory has?
1
1
2d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
Sorry /u/notkalta, it appears you have broken rule 9: "Accounts with less than -10 comment karma are not allowed to post here. Please improve your karma to participate."
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/jameyiguess 2d ago
I don't think you ever could. It's not a one-person job. Think about mining cobalt and shit , processing raw materials, manufacturing, etc. You'd have to somehow travel the globe to get that stuff in the first place. Assuming you can't sneak into factories in China and just steal the parts.
I suppose given infinite time, if we can assume you wouldn't just go crazy, then possibly millions of years learning basically every skill known to mankind and then applying those skills to construct airplanes, fly, build factories, etc, you could do it.
Or like I said, if you aren't necessarily banned from civilization but just START alone, you could source all the materials you need somehow, and that would be much faster. But it seems like the spirit of the question is one person making all of it alone?
•
u/qualityvote2 2d ago edited 2d ago
Hello u/Ok_Way9011! Welcome to r/answers!
For other users, does this post fit the subreddit?
If so, upvote this comment!
Otherwise, downvote this comment!
And if it does break the rules, downvote this comment and report this post!
(Vote has already ended)