[ddebernardy]

I'm not sure I agree with your terminology. Many engineers and startups confuse MVP (minimum viable product) with prototype or something to that effect. If a new product you've put out isn't viable, as in selling well enough that it sustains your business or will do so in the foreseeable future, it is - by definition - not an MVP; it's just a prototype.

iPhone was an MVP by any reasonable definition IMO. It was a 2G device and the build quality was meh if memory serves me well, it was slow, it lacked memory, the camera was trash, it didn't support 3rd party apps, it was expensive, it only worked on AT&T, etc. But it took off regardless because it was good enough.