According to Wccftech, a Redditor with the username ‘TechExpert2910’ has successfully hacked an iPhone 17 Pro Max to run iPadOS using an undisclosed exploit. The demonstration shows the flagship, powered by an A19 Pro chip and 12GB of RAM, connected to an external monitor via a single cable, displaying multiple open windows for a Mac-like multitasking experience. This specific exploit is only functional on iOS version 26.1, as Apple has already identified and patched the vulnerability in the subsequent iOS 26.2 beta 1 release. The Redditor theorizes that Apple prevents this functionality on iPhones to protect Mac sales. This hack highlights the underlying hardware capability of modern smartphones to power desktop-style interfaces, a feature Samsung first popularized with its DeX mode starting with the Galaxy S8 in 2017.
Why Won’t Apple Allow This?
Here’s the thing: the hardware is clearly capable. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a beast. So why does Apple actively block this? The classic argument is product cannibalization—that letting your phone become a desktop would kill Mac sales. But I’m not entirely convinced that’s the whole story. Look at the market: desktop modes on Android phones, like Samsung DeX, have existed for years without setting the world on fire. The vast majority of people just don’t seem to want it. They use their phones as phones and their computers as computers. So if it’s not a massive sales threat, what’s the real reason? It probably comes down to Apple’s obsession with a controlled, curated user experience. A half-baked desktop mode could feel janky and reflect poorly on the brand.
The Bigger Picture
This hack is fascinating because it exposes the artificial software boundaries placed on powerful hardware. It’s all the same silicon underneath. The A19 Pro in this iPhone isn’t that different from the chip you’d find in a base-model iPad or even a low-end Mac. Apple is even reportedly working on touchscreen MacBooks, which would arguably cannibalize iPad sales more directly than a phone desktop mode ever could. It creates a confusing product strategy. If you’re going to blur the lines between device categories, why not go all in? For professionals or tech enthusiasts who need a portable workstation, the ability to dock a phone to a monitor and use a full desktop interface is a compelling proposition, especially when using industrial-grade displays that demand stable performance.
So What’s Next?
Basically, don’t expect Apple to have a change of heart. This exploit is already dead, and that’s the pattern. They’ll keep the walls high between their product gardens. But the hack proves a point: the potential is there, locked away. Maybe the real opportunity isn’t a full desktop mode, but enhanced external display support for specific use cases, like gaming. Apple itself has pushed AAA titles like Resident Evil Village on iPhone. Letting users project those games properly to a big screen would be a killer feature that doesn’t step on the Mac’s toes. It’s a shame to see so much raw power in our pockets go underutilized due to software restrictions. The hardware is ready. The software, and the corporate strategy, are not.
