Will the first iphone become a collectors item?

kingc0bra · Dec 21, 2012, 02:23 PM

My gf still has her first iphone collecting dust, do you guys see this as becoming a collectors? I believe one day it may be since it is the first gen, im sure they didn't make as many back then as now...

The screen is broken but I'm not going to replace that, just keep it original for now..

What do you guys think?

Jessica Lares · Dec 21, 2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingc0bra

My gf still has her first iphone collecting dust, do you guys see this as becoming a collectors? I believe one day it may be since it is the first gen, im sure they didn't make as many back then as now...

The screen is broken but I'm not going to replace that, just keep it original for now..

What do you guys think?

The screen is broken, so no.

It would have to be still sealed in its box, intact, and in mint condition to be worth something more than the used price on eBay. You'll be hanging on to it for 10 more years before people start wanting it too.

kingc0bra · Dec 21, 2012, 10:35 PM

Thanks, ill def be keeping it for a long time instead of selling it for $10-20...

SnowLeopard OSX · Dec 22, 2012, 10:18 AM

Probably in a decade or so. iPods are definitely a collector's item because there's so many models and variants in the iPod family -- and iPods are a lot cheaper than other Apple products.

But I could see iPhones being a collector's item once the premiums on their prices have dropped. My friend collects iPods, iPhones, iPads, and Apple peripherals which is pretty neat.

gkarris · Dec 23, 2012, 02:00 PM

You need to at least fix the screen an get it in working order. We collectors tend to not go for broken items, especially for something as common as an Apple iPhone.

CIB (Complete In Box) would be worth more, but just the phone would appeal to someone who just "wants one - any one" for a reasonable price for their collection...

pagansoul · Dec 26, 2012, 06:43 AM

I use mine as a remote. I have the original, 3GS, 4 and the current 5. For some reason I can't make myself sell off the older models. I think I'm a closet horder, resell value doesn't even come up in my thinking.

OSMac · Dec 26, 2012, 03:09 PM

I'm wondering going forward with all these items with internal batteries how it will effect collecting?

Plugging in a old laptop is not too bad, but a phone or tablet seems different.

The internal batteries will run out, but will they leak over time too?

MisterKeeks · Dec 26, 2012, 03:21 PM

Not anytime soon. The first iMac sold like hotcakes, and it is hardly regarded as a collector's item now (I got mine for free and $10). I think the same will happen to the iPhone.

Dec 21, 2012, 02:23 PM	#1
kingc0bra macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	Will the first iphone become a collectors item? My gf still has her first iphone collecting dust, do you guys see this as becoming a collectors? I believe one day it may be since it is the first gen, im sure they didn't make as many back then as now... The screen is broken but I'm not going to replace that, just keep it original for now.. What do you guys think? __________________ 2012 13" Macbook Pro, 64GB iPhone 4S, 32GB Ipad1
	0

Dec 21, 2012, 10:35 PM	#3
kingc0bra Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012	Thanks, ill def be keeping it for a long time instead of selling it for $10-20... __________________ 2012 13" Macbook Pro, 64GB iPhone 4S, 32GB Ipad1
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 10:18 AM	#4
SnowLeopard OSX macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Southern California	Probably in a decade or so. iPods are definitely a collector's item because there's so many models and variants in the iPod family -- and iPods are a lot cheaper than other Apple products. But I could see iPhones being a collector's item once the premiums on their prices have dropped. My friend collects iPods, iPhones, iPads, and Apple peripherals which is pretty neat. __________________ iPad 4th gen Black/ 32GB/ iOS 6.1.3 iMac G4 1.0 GHz/ 1.25 GHz PPCG4 (7445) iPod \|Classic Black/ 80GB\|U2 edition 20GB iPhone \|4S White/16GB/ iOS 6.1.3\|3G White/16GB iOS 4.2.1
	0

Dec 23, 2012, 02:00 PM	#5
gkarris macrumors 604 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In the stillness of remembering....	You need to at least fix the screen an get it in working order. We collectors tend to not go for broken items, especially for something as common as an Apple iPhone. CIB (Complete In Box) would be worth more, but just the phone would appeal to someone who just "wants one - any one" for a reasonable price for their collection... __________________ "This gate's plastic." Captain Carter, Stargate SG-1, "Touchstone"
	0

Dec 26, 2012, 06:43 AM	#6
pagansoul macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Earth	I use mine as a remote. I have the original, 3GS, 4 and the current 5. For some reason I can't make myself sell off the older models. I think I'm a closet horder, resell value doesn't even come up in my thinking. __________________ ipod 20GB (before color), ipod 80GB, iphone 8GB Edge, 3GS, 4 and iphone 5, Macbook Pro 15" 2.53, MacPro 2.6, TV 120GB, ATV2, (v5) Nano 16GB, iPad3 64HD, 2011 mini & the last iMac 27".
	0

Dec 26, 2012, 03:09 PM	#7
OSMac macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2010	I'm wondering going forward with all these items with internal batteries how it will effect collecting? Plugging in a old laptop is not too bad, but a phone or tablet seems different. The internal batteries will run out, but will they leak over time too?
	0

Dec 26, 2012, 03:21 PM	#8
MisterKeeks macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2012	Not anytime soon. The first iMac sold like hotcakes, and it is hardly regarded as a collector's item now (I got mine for free and $10). I think the same will happen to the iPhone. __________________ Core Duo 1.83 Mac Mini, Dual 2.7 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.8 Power Mac G5, Dual 1.25 MDD G4, 1.6 GHz iMac G5, 900 MHz iBook G3, 800 MHz iMac G4, 500MHz iMac G3, 400MHz iMac G3
	0

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