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

[JCCL]

Why can’t it be turned on?

Battery is probably completely death. It could be activated otherwise, as there were several tools to bypass activation - one would just have to google them (I bought my iPhone 2G in the USA and used it in an unsupported country back in the day).

 

[Andeddu]

Barry is probably completely death. It could be activated otherwise, as there were several tools to bypass activation - one would just have to google them (I bought my iPhone 2G in the USA and used it in an unsupported country back in the day).

Yeah, it would have be to plugged in but it should still work. If I had an original iPhone in mint condition I wouldn’t be using it though. It would just be inside its box in a dark cupboard until I have found a suitable buyer looking to add it to their collection for an agreeable price.

 

[JCCL]

Yeah, it would have be to plugged in but it should still work. If I had an original iPhone in mint condition I wouldn’t be using it though. It would just be inside its box in a dark cupboard until I have found a suitable buyer looking to add it to their collection for an agreeable price.

Yeap, and especially with a sealed one, it immediately loses most of its value as a collectible once the plastic wrap is taken off. Which leads to the question - if no one can open the iPhone because it loses its value, then is there really an iPhone?

Definitely will never be a collector!

 

[Andeddu]

Yeap, and especially with a sealed one, it immediately loses most of its value as a collectible once the plastic wrap is taken off. Which leads to the question - if no one can open the iPhone because it loses its value, then is there really an iPhone?

Definitely will never be a collector!

Haha, me neither. I like collecting electronics but they are all used by myself. I take good care of everything I have and try my best to keep my things in mint condition so they can be placed back in their box and stored as collectibles. I am definitely not a true collector though!

 

[AbSoluTc]

You clearly know nothing about collectibles. The first iPhone was a major breakthrough and put smartphones on the map for consumers.

Hell, look at old classic cars that sit in climate control garages and never move but keep being worth more because they aren’t being used but being preserved.

You can use the car after 30 years. You can't use the phone. That's the difference and I am well aware about collectibles. If the device was usable, it would be worth more. For now it's just a beautiful paper weight

 

[1BadManVan]

You can use the car after 30 years. You can't use the phone. That's the difference and I am well aware about collectibles. If the device was usable, it would be worth more. For now it's just a beautiful paper weight

Yea? And how much you wanna bet he fetched a good chunk of change for that “paperweight”?

 

[Andeddu]

You can use the car after 30 years. You can't use the phone. That's the difference and I am well aware about collectibles. If the device was usable, it would be worth more. For now it's just a beautiful paper weight

It’s worth what it’s worth on the open market, which is a lot more than any other mass produced phone you can purchase today.

 

[mpavilion]

So how much is it worth on the open market? Has there been a recent sale?

 

[Andeddu]

So how much is it worth on the open market? Has there been a recent sale?

A sealed original iPhone sold for $39,339 at US auction house LCG Auctions in 2022.

Not bad for a paperweight.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Another update! The value has appreciated much quicker than I anticipated. A sealed original 8GB iPhone without an App Store icon (indicating it’s one of the earlier models, similar to mine) recently sold for $39K at auction.

Mine is still in the safe deposit box (costing me $85 a year now). I haven’t been to the bank in a decade, but I plan to go down there this year (I’ve since relocated so it’s a bit of a trip for me). I’ll snap a photo of it and post it here. The serial number has never been activated. Unfortunately I don’t have the receipt so I could see this impacting value.

Hokey Smokes… seems like now might be the time? 😬

 

[AppleFanatic10]

Another update! The value has appreciated much quicker than I anticipated. A sealed original 8GB iPhone without an App Store icon (indicating it’s one of the earlier models, similar to mine) recently sold for $39K at auction.

Mine is still in the safe deposit box (costing me $85 a year now). I haven’t been to the bank in a decade, but I plan to go down there this year (I’ve since relocated so it’s a bit of a trip for me). I’ll snap a photo of it and post it here. The serial number has never been activated. Unfortunately I don’t have the receipt so I could see this impacting value.

I think the recent high sale may not hold up for future sales. With major news outlets reporting on this ~50x return I’m expecting a lot of sealed iPhones to come into the market (there has to be thousands right?). However, I don’t think most will be the earlier model. I’m also very curious how much a 4GB iPhone would fetch. (Hard to believe the base model of an iPhone 14 is 128GB!)

And I appreciate the mods keeping this thread alive! Super interesting to read the changing sentiment across the life of this decade+ thread.

Man you are one lucky guy!

 

[1BadManVan]

You can use the car after 30 years. You can't use the phone. That's the difference and I am well aware about collectibles. If the device was usable, it would be worth more. For now it's just a beautiful paper weight

Well? Still want to hold onto that argument?

 

[AbSoluTc]

Well? Still want to hold onto that argument?

Never said anything about value.

Just said it's a beautiful paperweight.

 

[1BadManVan]

Never said anything about value.

Just said it's a beautiful paperweight.

Actually you did, the paperweight argument was made saying it would be worth more if it was working. Even though its value is based on being sealed in the factory packaging. Cute back peddling though, thanks for the laugh

 

[SYCAMOREGRAD]

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!

Are you talking the first generation running on 2G data? Or second generation iPhone?

 

[tremlock]

2nd Gen would be iPhone 3G, has to be talking about 1st Gen

 

[AbSoluTc]

Actually you did, the paperweight argument was made saying it would be worth more if it was working. Even though its value is based on being sealed in the factory packaging. Cute back peddling though, thanks for the laugh

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