The iPhone-16’s global commodity chain reveals a metabolic imbalance, where resources flow from the global South to the North, leaving behind exploitation and environmental damage. Minerals are extracted in conflict zones under harsh conditions, while manufacturing and consumption benefit the North’s wealthier economies. Once discarded, e-waste returns to the South, where informal recycling practices expose workers to toxic hazards. This cyclical process not only exacerbates global inequality but also underscores the hidden costs behind modern technology.