What’s Happening With TikTok’s ‘Invisible Phone’?
Earlier this week, TikTok user CatGPT posted a video of a woman in line at a store, seemingly scrolling through her feed on a completely transparent phone. The caption reads, “Excuse me, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS???” Watch:
The video quickly became popular, with more than 52 million views on TikTok in just four days.
So what the hell is this? A techie who casually violates a non-disclosure agreement by openly brandishing a transparent phone prototype? A new “Plex by Nokia” (as the top comment suggests)? An accidental time traveler caught in the act?
The Real Story of the “Transparent Phone”
Sorry, it’s not the above. It’s exactly what it looks like: a clear piece of acrylic in the shape of a phone. Specifically, it’s the Metaphone. The idea is that people who depend on their devices can be soothed by a phone-shaped slab.
“If we’re all so addicted to our phones,” CatGPT says in the following video, “could we potentially curb someone’s addiction by replacing the feeling of having a phone in your pocket with something that feels exactly the same?”
If you’re thinking, “Well, no,” you’re not alone. The general consensus is, “That’s stupid,” and CatGPT herself confirms this in her video: “Did I use my phone less the entire week I carried it around? Probably not.”
She goes on to say that it’s an expansion anyway, and that the device is currently sold out. If you want your own Methaphone for some reason, here’s the link .
Will we ever have real transparent phones?
While CatGPT classifies the views on her video as evidence that people feel alienated from their devices, I think the real reason it went viral is because people think a transparent phone would be pretty cool. It would also have some interesting uses, especially in terms of augmented reality, but transparent phones aren’t likely to become commonplace anytime soon.
You can already buy a transparent TV . There was more than one transparent screen at the last CES. There are transparent batteries . Samsung has been filing patents related to transparent phones for at least the last decade. But bringing a transparent phone to market would mean that all the components would be transparent, which is probably impossible, and if not, it would be very expensive: This glass TV costs $60,000.
Moreover, you can lose it on the first day and never find it again.
How to Replace a Cell Phone Without Paying $25
If you’re intrigued by the idea of replacing your phone handset with something that looks like a handset, here are a few suggestions that are better than the Methaphone:
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Old Mobile Phone : I’m sure you have old phones at home that are always dark. Just carry them around with you.
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Battery : Many power banks are about the size of a phone, and you can use them to charge your phone when you’re tired of pretending you don’t care about it.
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Notepad: When combined with a pen, a small notepad can be used for writing and drawing.
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Deck of cards : unlike Metafon, the cards have built-in games, both single and multiplayer, and even have a built-in photo on the front.