A Never-Opened Original iPhone Has Been Auctioned Off At An Insane Price

So, in my previous stories, I’ve chatted about all sorts of smartphone stuff. You can find the links to those at the bottom of this post. But today, I want to talk about something pretty cool — the crazy worth of old-school gadgets. I’ll also share a recent mind-blowing example of Apple’s first smartphone that went for an absolutely insane price. Hold onto your seats!

Old tech can really sell for a big amount?

Let’s talk about the insane collector’s value of old tech! You know, the vintage stuff that makes tech geeks go crazy and open up their wallets. It’s like stepping into a time machine and rediscovering the wonders of the past.

First off, you’ve got those classic video game consoles. Remember the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)? That little gray box brought so much joy to our childhoods. Well, nowadays, it’s become a hot item for collectors.

Those who managed to keep their NES systems in mint condition can rake in some serious cash. And don’t even get me started on the games! Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and other cartridges from back in the day can fetch a pretty penny.

But it’s not just gaming consoles that have collectors drooling. Vintage computers are also a huge deal. Take the Apple I, for instance. This bad boy was released way back in 1976 and was a groundbreaking piece of tech.

Today, it’s an incredibly rare find, with only a few dozen known to exist. So, you can imagine the kind of money collectors are willing to dish out for a piece of computing history like that.

And let’s not forget about the world of audio equipment. Remember cassette tapes? They might seem ancient now, but cassette decks and Walkmans have a cult following.

Audiophiles and hipsters alike love the warm, analog sound of cassettes, and they’re willing to pay top dollar for vintage players and rare cassette tapes. If you happen to stumble upon an original, unopened copy of an iconic album on cassette, you might just hit the jackpot.

Speaking of music, vinyl records are experiencing a renaissance. Turntables and vinyl have made a comeback in recent years, and collectors are on the hunt for rare and limited-edition releases.

The allure of the physical format, the artwork, and the warm sound of vinyl make it a must-have for many music lovers. Some records from bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, or Led Zeppelin can fetch absurdly high prices, especially if they’re in pristine condition.

The collector’s value of old tech isn’t just about the price tag, though. It’s also about preserving history and nostalgia. Owning a piece of tech from the past can transport us back to a simpler time when things were less complicated. It’s a way to connect with our roots and appreciate the innovations that paved the way for the gadgets we have today.

How much did an original iPhone sell for?

A super rare, first-gen 4GB iPhone, still sealed and untouched after sitting around for a whopping ten years, just got snatched up in an auction for a mind-blowing price of over $190,000!

The bidding started at 10 grand, and over the course of two weeks, a total of 28 bids rolled in, ultimately making the seller a sweet profit of over $180,000 when the auction finally closed.

Now, let’s rewind to 2007 when the first iPhone hit the scene. It came in two versions: a puny 4GB one and a slightly better 8GB option. But honestly, those storage sizes are peanuts compared to what we have nowadays.

Back then, the iPhone’s limited space, the exclusive partnership with AT&T in the US, and a price tag of $499 for the 4GB model turned off some potential buyers.

But flaws aside, this device was a smashing success and put Apple on the map in the young smartphone industry. Even with later models incorporating technologies from other companies like Sony, the first iPhones remained the holy grail for collectors.

Now, let’s get to the juicy part. That jaw-dropping sum of $190,372.80 is the exact amount someone forked over to get their hands on a brand-spanking-new, still shrink-wrapped 4GB iPhone in an auction held by LCG Auctions.

This event took place from June 30 to July 16, and the final bid on this particular iPhone was a staggering $158,644. Can you believe that’s more than three times the price an 8GB first-gen iPhone sold for just a few months back in February?

But hold on, there’s more to this story. The auction listing mentioned that the seller was actually part of Apple’s engineering team when the iPhone launched in 2007. How they got their hands on this precious 4GB model remains a mystery, adding some extra excitement to the bidding frenzy.

Last year, LCG Auctions also had another 4GB first-gen iPhone up for grabs. Can you guess how much it closed? A mere $39,339.60, which is roughly just one-fifth of the insane price fetched by the recent auction. When you think about it, paying six figures for outdated tech from 2007 to 2023 might sound a bit nuts, considering all the advancements in the iPhone world.

Final Words

Obviously, the iPhone 14 totally outshines the original iPhone in terms of technology.

But hey, sealed iPhones from back in the day are like gold to collectors.

Who knows if future auctions will top the jaw-dropping $190k price tag? We’ll just have to wait and see!

If you enjoy my posts and would like to stay updated on the latest gaming-related news, technology advancements, design trends, and social media insights, I invite you to follow my profile.

I will continue to share my thoughts and insights on a wide range of topics in the world of entertainment and technology.

With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

Here is everything I wrote last month:

Here are a few of my previous stories relating to smartphones I believe you will enjoy:

References

First-generation Apple iPhone sells at auction in US for $190,000.

Factory-Sealed Original iPhone Sells for Ridiculous Price at Auction.

About Me

I write articles in my field covering gaming, film-making, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you for subscribing to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium. I also created a new website to share my content for free and promote stories of writers contributing to my publications on Medium. I also have a Substack newsletter. Let’s connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.

I own two publications on Medium. One for video gamers and another for YouTubers and Podcasters. I also support Illumination Integrated Publications as a volunteer editor and participate in collaborative activities in the Slack Workspace. Writer applications for my publications can be sent via this weblink. Please add your Medium ID.

If you are new to Medium, you may join via my referral link. You may also consider being a Vocal+ member to monetize your content. I write for both platforms and repurpose my content to reach a larger audience. Here is more information about Vocal Media.

This post includes my Medium and Vocal Media referral links.