Unopened Original iPhone Sells for $35,000 at Auction

[MacRumors]

A sealed original iPhone made from an early production run has sold for $35,000 in a recent auction.

Based on the box design, this iPhone was among the initial batch of original iPhone models sold in the first few months after the iPhone launched in June 2007, as the Home Screen does not include an iTunes Store icon. The iTunes Store app was initially not included on the iPhone and wasn't added until a few months later with the release of iPhone OS 1.1 in September 2007. The iPhone box design was subsequently updated to add the icon.

The listing doesn't offer any clues on the condition of the actual iPhone inside the box, but given it's still sealed, it should be in brand-new condition.


Article Link: Unopened Original iPhone Sells for $35,000 at Auction

 

[ProfessionalFan]

The iPhone 14 Pro is going to be dirt cheap in comparison. Everyone can stop complaining about that price

 

[carlsson]

I have a well used iPhone 3GS with dead battery. It could contain a secret message from Steve Jobs. Any takers?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Sheeesh! that's insane. In my opinion, this original iPhone is priceless. Way ahead of it's time!

 

[bpa1093]

Still one of the best designs, in my opinion. There was a “Wow” factor, holding one in your hand.

 

[Mcsnee]

And that's only part of the price... the buyer still has to sign up for a Cingular account!

 

[Rainshadow]

And… inside… is a lead brick. The original purchaser swapped out the phone and sealed up the box for resale nearly 2 decades later.

Prove me wrong 😂

 

[Matsamoto]

My quess is that @TheYayAreaLiving 🎗 bought it😁

 

[siddavis]

I'm actually surprised it didn't go for more. I can't imagine there are that many unopened left and there are some crazy collectors out there!

 

[mansplains]

And… inside… is a lead brick. The original purchaser swapped out the phone and sealed up the box for resale nearly 2 decades later.

Prove me wrong 😂

Yeah that's what I first thought, how do you prove it's the original cellophane?

 

[ProfessionalFan]

And… inside… is a lead brick. The original purchaser swapped out the phone and sealed up the box for resale nearly 2 decades later.

Prove me wrong 😂

And the only way to find out would be to open the box, which would immediately crash the value. The perfect crime does exist.

 

[leftoverbacon]

Yeah that's what I first thought, how do you prove it's the original cellophane?

You could x-ray the box to validate the contents.

 

[leftoverbacon]

I'm curious how bloated that battery is. Those things don't age well.

 

[carlsson]

You could x-ray the box to validate the contents.

I think it's mandatory to do that on these things.

 

[idmean]

I think it's mandatory to do that on these things.

Mandated by who?

 

[A_Hunger_Artist]

I worked at the Apple store when the iPhone came out (thanks Steve for my free phone), and I remember talking with some coworkers about how we should all buy one and leave it sealed for a couple decades before selling. Of course we were all broke college students so no one did it but it's at least nice to know my instinct was correct!

 

[TonyC28]

That person is gonna be pisssssed when they find out it doesn't support iOS 16.

 

[ghanwani]

A year ago, an NFT of this phone would have auctioned for $3.5 million.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

A year ago, an NFT of this phone would have auctioned for $3.5 million.

I forgot NFTs were a thing

 

[imola.zhp]

When will the original Apple Watch be worth this much? I have one sealed.

 

[LawJolla]

That's a 78% annualized return on investment.

 

[dinobear]

only interested in the NFT version of this

 

[Eso]

An unopened phone in its original package for 15 years seems like a stupid idea. It’s not an action figure that you can at least see through the package. Not only is the battery certainly dead, you need a 2007 version of iTunes to get the phone working (if it is even possible anymore). The phone inside is about as useful as the iPhone 14 dummy models floating around. Why bother marveling over a revolutionary device if you can’t actually experience it at all.

 

[Kissmo1980]

I wonder how much that battery increased its size

 

[bigboy29]

Ah, that new phone smell / feel...

Oh, wait.