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iPhone 5 or earlier iPhone 1st generation value unopened?

T

tradeya

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 7, 2019
16
1
How much is an 8 GB 1st generation unopened, factory sealed iPhone actually worth? I've seen them for sale at various prices, but, haven't actually seen prices realized. How about one where the box is not factory sealed, but, it matches the IMEI number of the phone and the phone has never been activated and still has the original plastic on it?

Thanks so much!
 
I did, but, there aren't any that I've seen that have sold in unopened, still factory sealed boxes. I hear there are also a lot of scammers out there who are resealing these type of things. Nonetheless, I cannot find any actual sale prices on Ebay for true factory sealed iPhone 1st gen.
 
I intend to. I was offered a number of them from an old supply and I'm wondering how much I should pay for me. I already own a few but was curious on current pricing. I'm buying all vintage Apple products. This year I acquired an Apple 1, five Apple II rev. 0s, etc. etc.
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now i see it said:
Keep it for another 20 years. It'll be worth thousands then
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By the way, i truly unopened iPhone 1st gen. factory sealed, is already well into the thousands. It's just a question of how many thousands.
 
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I would not be surprised if it could go for 10 thousand to be honest. Personally if I had one I will not be selling it for less.
 
Based on my limited experience with a 2010 MBP I would worry about the condition of the battery if I could not see the phone. The battery could swell and ruin the phone and you would never know.
 
But these are collector's items only. Never meant to be used or turned on. Never meant to be removed from the factory seals.
 
Personally I think it’s almost worthless. Well, maybe a couple of hundred.

But maybe you’ll get lucky and find someone who thinks it’s worth $1000.
 
EugW said:
Personally I think it’s almost worthless. Well, maybe a couple of hundred.
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And why? The prices on eBay are telling something else. Why aren't any other unused 2007 phones worth that much?
 
alpi123 said:
And why? The prices on eBay are telling something else. Why aren't any other unused 2007 phones worth that much?
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People rarely sell them for much and when they do, they are in a sealed box +/- other accessories. The OPs is not in the original sealed box.

However, I was talking more what I personally think it’s worth, and that’s not very much.
 
EugW, if you have one, I'll buy it for $1,000. I'm not trying to sell. I'm trying to buy. Someone offered me one and I'm trying to determine the value of a truly factory sealed, never opened, iPhone 1st Gen. 8 GB. I'll even pay you $2,000 if you truly have one. I know it's worth more than that anyway
 
tradeya said:
EugW, if you have one, I'll buy it for $1,000. I'm not trying to sell. I'm trying to buy. Someone offered me one and I'm trying to determine the value of a truly factory sealed, never opened, iPhone 1st Gen. 8 GB. I'll even pay you $2,000 if you truly have one. I know it's worth more than that anyway
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I don’t have one. But you can make offers on eBay or elsewhere.

Anyways, the one you mentioned is not factory sealed.
 
The value is given by the request... Is there a request for this kind of devices ?
useless today, and most probably with a defective battery.
Nice for a personal collection, for sure.

It is not like an expensive watch like a Rolex, where an unopened item could actually gain thousands of dollars over the years. But a Rolex will work in 10 years from now. Unlike your iPhone.
 
tradeya said:
You could say that about an Apple 1 computer too, right?
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Common fallacy that the first of something should be worth a lot just because another first of something is worth a lot.

Apple 1 was a very, very limited run hand made computer for hobbyists that launched the personal computing revolution, by guys working out of a proverbial garage when their company was worth a couple of thousand bucks.
 
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Well, the market is really the ultimate proof. I did find one on Ebay under completed items that hit about $2,000 but didn't meet its reserve. That's much higher than the original cost back in 2007, so, there is a collector's market for these. The question is how much and how long and will they continue to appreciate.
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Also, an Apple II rev. 0 early serial number is worth about $30,000 (ventless). An Apple II rev. 0 in nearly any state is worth about $4,000. There is a collector's market out there for all vintage Apple products.
 
tradeya said:
Well, the market is really the ultimate proof. I did find one on Ebay under completed items that hit about $2,000 but didn't meet its reserve. That's much higher than the original cost back in 2007, so, there is a collector's market for these. The question is how much and how long and will they continue to appreciate.
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But as you said, is that iPhone in question you mentioned in your original post is not a factory sealed one.
 
tradeya said:
Yes, this one claims to be:

www.ebay.com

FACTORY SEALED! RARE 1st GEN Apple iphone 8gb MA712LL/A A1203 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for FACTORY SEALED! RARE 1st GEN Apple iphone 8gb MA712LL/A A1203 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
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We seem to be arguing in circles. You keep on discussing items (that didn’t actually even sell) which claim to be factory sealed, and I keep pointing out that the actual original item you posted about wasn’t factory sealed.

Furthermore, the original Apple 1 and a low serial Apple 2 are completely irrelevant to this conversation.
 
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First, I don't think we are arguing. Second, I didn't post about any specific item so I'm not sure why you say that "the actual original item you posted about wasn't factory sealed"? I was just asking for anyone who knows how much a truly unopened, factory sealed 1st generation 8GB iPhone would be worth? I was offered one and I want to know how much to pay. That's it. Btw, the Apple 1 and Apple II are relevant to me because they are also Apple collectibles just like I believe an original iPhone 1st generation is. Different price points, but, I was making the point that there is a market for Apple collectibles.
 
“How about one where the box is not factory sealed, but, it matches the IMEI number of the phone and the phone has never been activated and still has the original plastic on it?”
 
Yes, I was looking for an indication on price on that one too. The person offering this to me has one sealed one and one where the box is opened but the phone still has the plastic on it, was never activated, etc. Obviously, the factory sealed box is more valuable, however, I was just curious as to indications of price on both. Thanks!
 
OP, in my complete honesty, I don't think a factory sealed/unwrapped iPhone 1 exists on sites like eBay. I know people from this forum who actually have got some that they never opened, but they don't sell them.

The bad thing is, these things are so easy to resell and make look like the real deal, so it's hard to catch a genuine one.
 
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alpi123 said:
OP, in my complete honesty, I don't think a factory sealed/unwrapped iPhone 1 exists on sites like eBay. I know people from this forum who actually have got some that they never opened, but they don't sell them.

The bad thing is, these things are so easy to resell and make look like the real deal, so it's hard to catch a genuine one.
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I wouldn’t buy one from eBay either. Probably the vast majority of them are returns or refurbs that have been resealed. To reseal, all you need is a hairdryer.
 
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