Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

I have a sealed 2G iPhone. Do you think it will become worth a lot?

I have a hard time believing it will become valuable. You can't give away old PCs, old Nokias. Even old Apple computers are pretty much worthless. Why would the iPhone be any different?
 
kasakka said:
I have a hard time believing it will become valuable. You can't give away old PCs, old Nokias. Even old Apple computers are pretty much worthless. Why would the iPhone be any different?
Click to expand...

Because it was a "first"

The first iMacs in mist conditions are pretty valuables... no to mention Apple I or Apples IIs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ignatius345
That is pretty awesome. Yeah, it will definitely be worth a lot down the road, regardless of how many iPhones are in the market.

Can you posted pictures just for the hell of it?
 
Don't forget to include the video clip of Steve Ballmer and burn it to DVD.

Steve Ballmer said:
$500, fully subsidized with a plan?! I said, "That is the most expensive phone in the world and it doesn’t appeal to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard, which makes it not a very good email machine."

Now, it may sell very well or not. We have our strategy. We've got great Windows Mobile devices on the market today. You can get a Motorola Q phone now for $99! It's a very capable machine. It'll do music. It'll do internet. It'll do email. It'll do instant messaging. So, I kinda look at that and I say, "I like our strategy, I like it a lot."

Right now, we’re selling millions and millions and millions of phones a year, Apple is selling zero phones a year. In six months, they’ll have the most expensive phone by far ever in the marketplace and let’s see. (What’s the expression?) Let’s see how the competition goes...
Click to expand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcUicfqelC8
 
Googled and came across this thread...reason so late on the posting...haha


People that don't think the original 1st Gen iPhone won't be worth anything...especially SEALED...well I disagree.

The Three biggest impacts on the Apple company IMO.

#1 - Apple makes a name for itself in the computer industry - 1st Apple 128K / 512k - Sold for up to $50,000!!!
http://news.cnet.com/Apple-I-computer-sells-for-14,000/2100-1040_3-892293.html

#2 - Apple makes a name for itself in the music/portable media player industry - 1st Gen iPod Classic 5GB - Sold for $990!!! (Sealed)
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/266856/

#3 - Apple makes a name for itself in the cellular industry - 1st Gen iPhone 2g 4GB/8GB - Sold for ??? I am guessing it will be the same story.

That is why this past weekend I saw this thread and realized I wanted to search for a Sealed 1st Gen iPhone 2g 4GB/8GB...I got lucky!!!:D

IMG_0759copy.jpg

IMG_0763copy.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: fatalogic
Its too soon

the original ipod is no longer being used by a lot of people = why its valuable

too many people are still using 2g iphones = no nostalgia = no added value


You will have to wait at least 5 more years i believe for the value to go up.


just put it away somewhere and forget about it
 
I to have a sealed 2G 8GB that I bought shortly after my love affair with the iPhone began, it's not an investment but if it does go up in value then I won't be complaining, although I would imagine that if anything was going to be worth a lot of money it would be a sealed 2G 4GB; they're hard enough to come across in mint condition let alone sealed!

I'm currently waiting for a 2G 4GB that I bought from eBay to arrive, it's in fair cosmetic condition but it is in full working order, or at least I hope it is! I plan to give it a bit of TLC and restore it to its former glory.

P.S. Anyone know where I can get a replacement 2G 4GB backplate from (has to be the 4GB version)?
 
Apple only made the first generation iPhone in 4GB and 8GB. The 4GB was quickly dropped but enough are around to make it interesting but not scarce.

Now, if you really want to chase after a difficult to locate iPhone, try finding the first generation in 16GB. Apple made those for a couple of weeks before tooling up and switching to the 3G iPhone.
 
braddick said:
Apple only made the first generation iPhone in 4GB and 8GB. The 4GB was quickly dropped but enough are around to make it interesting but not scarce.

Now, if you really want to chase after a difficult to locate iPhone, try finding the first generation in 16GB. Apple made those for a couple of weeks before tooling up and switching to the 3G iPhone.
Click to expand...

They made the 16GB 1st gen from February to July 2008 ,when the 3G was released.
 
probably if you wait 40 years someone will buy it and you can make your desired profit.:rolleyes:
 
-aggie- said:
Yeah, it’s not like we’re talking about antiques or classic cars here.
Click to expand...

But the whole point is that antiques and classic cars were the same way when they were new. Rareness and longevity give some things value.

Of course, knowing or stumbling blindly into which things will be rare in 25 or 50 years is half the battle, but I would say the original iPhone has a better than average chance of becoming worth a decent price. I would not spend tons of money preserving it or anything, but if it can be stored without cost, I see no reason why not.


Someone did have a good point about the battery though. I wonder what the average lithium ion cell does over a long period of time of non-use?
 
The difference between and iPhone and most other "mint in box" collectibles is that it's relatively easy to re-seal an iPhone box. Therefore I really don't think the unopened box is going to make it any more valuable than an opened one still in good condition.

All one has to do is to replace the iPhone in the box with something of equal weight and shrink wrap it. Presto! A sealed iPhone! Also don't be surprised if you check your "investment" down the line and find that the battery has ruptured and eaten away half of your unopened packaging. :D
 
lambo said:
Hey, I have one of the first manufactured iPhone 2G 8GBs still sealed, brand new, in box. Do you think it will increase in value massively over the years?

I'm just wondering if I should hold on to it or not. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hold it long enough and the battery will fail.
 
Carlanga said:
probably if you wait 40 years someone will buy it and you can make your desired profit.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
OP,

No way, you'd be better off investing the full price of the handset in any government bond and have a better return on your money. In fact, as long as you marginally beat inflation, your money is safer somewhere else.

Gadgets are not the same as cars or furniture. There are some nutcases who pay relatively high price for rare computers in their original package, but these computers have to be very special and rare for some reason. A simple first gen iPhone is so common and has so little use when it's wrapped, that you are just wasting money by having it. It is completely different from cartoons or toys, for example. As you can appreciate some of the aesthetic value of a toy soldier, but not a gadget's.

Sell it now, you already wasted enough by having it. Just make sure that it's wrapped when you sell it and that the listing states the fact even in the title, to generate more interest.
 
Sit on it for 30 years. Keep it somewhere out of sight, and out of mind.

Your progeny will make $$$ from it.
 
boss.king said:
won't be worth anything. It will be like any other old phone today.
Click to expand...

Maybe...But any other old phone is just an "old phone." Wouldn't you agree when the iPhone was created, it was a huge technology leap not just for apple but for the entire cellular industry? Every android phone (Motorola, HTC, etc) are based off the original iPhone. The iPhone set the standard.

So I disagree with "won't be worth anything. It will be like any other old phone today."

Maybe it will not be worth much, who knows. But I bet there will be some crazy iPod/iPhone collectors that will pay a pretty penny for SEALED original iPhone.

And to clarify, I have a friend who works at the airport. He put the iPhone through the x-ray machine or whatever it's called. There is an iPhone in there:D
 
lambo said:
Hey, I have one of the first manufactured iPhone 2G 8GBs still sealed, brand new, in box. Do you think it will increase in value massively over the years?

I'm just wondering if I should hold on to it or not. Thanks!
Click to expand...

No.
Its not an antique or a unique item since there's millions of them out.
Value will not increase massively, you're better off investing your money in something else if you're looking for a return after years. Try Gold or other precious metals or diamonds:)
 
The battery will only last 2 or three years. It has a limited shelf life whether you use it or not. It's probably useless right now.

What's my old bag phone worth?? Nothing. I have to pay someone to dispose of it. :mad:
 
I would guess that battery is fine. And if you use it, it is based off cycle life. I have an iPod that is 7 years old and has the original battery. Still works just fine:D

It all depends how much you use it and the environment(temperature) you have used it in. If you only used your iPod plugged in a charging station it would last a very long time because your not going through cell cycles. Also if your iPod/iPhone is barely charged and you turned it off, the battery shelf life would last a very long time. Losing as low as 2% capacity life each year!! And from my experience every time I have purchased an iPhone or an iPod the battery has only been charged to 10-20%. That is why when you get your iPod/iPhone/Macbook or any phone for that matter, it barely is charged. Only enough to turn it on and activate it/set it up. This increases the shelf life and decreases apple or whomever to replace more batteries. Which means this iPhone's battery should be useful for a long time still...Sealed...In the box

If I am wrong please correct me...with evidence...j/k
 
I think it is worth holding onto. It may never be worth thousands of dollars but at some point its value will rise.

A lot of phones will never go up in value but there are plenty of people who collect apple products and it is an important point in apple's history and in mint condition. Heck, even if it never does go up hugely in value, you can pull it out in the future and shock your kids/grandkids with your primitive technology.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back