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The rarest iPhone would be one of the prototypes with the original plastic screens that Jobs made them switch to glass a little over a month before launch.
 
The post above mine wins, yet in everyday life, the iPhone5S with 7.0 firmware is scarce.
It was only provided on new devices from Apple (and many quickly updated, of course, when the next firmware was released).
 
I'd say, as others, the original 2G iPhone, just because it wasn't sold outside the US.
 
What about the Black/Slate iPhone 5?


Out of production runs (one year), I think the original iPhone 5 had one of the shortest production runs compared to any other iPhone model while it's hardware lives on in the 5C. The case designs aside from Space Gray are pretty much direct carry overs from the iPhone 5 to the 5S but gone is the Black/Slate color option

Most of the iPhone 5 models I've seen are the White/Silver but not many Black/Slate models especially in higher GB capacities.

I remember a few topics here and on the Apple forums about the Black/Slate model having issues with the finish chipping off but nearly a year of ownership of the Black/Slate model I ordered direct from T-Mobile for some much needed LTE love after using a unlocked AT&T 4S with only EDGE speeds, the upgrade was soooo worth it to me. I use a Speck case with mine which has done more than its fair share of saving my bacon and happy to report that only just last week when I decided to give my phone a good cleaning and inspection that the Black/Slate finish is perfect and even the rear glass inserts are intact. Not bad for a $35 case from Target.

Earlier on after seeing photos of chipped iPhone 5 models that made many switch to the white version, I'd be frustrated like those who bought them early on for AT&T and the other US carriers at launch. For those who miss their Darth Vader iPhone, it's a shame that problem was around but now have no option. Shopping for a new iPhone anyway, the 5s is the ideal choice unless the 5c is your thing

I can see why the change was made from early adopters having the color chipping off and while mine was possibly one of the last batches produced before the 5S announcement and with the color issue fixed. Honestly, the hardest part about the Black/Slate model iPhone 5 was reading anything on the back. Others who wanted to show the Apple logo bling factor and the black Apple logo on a black background wasn't the best choice for that practice just to say "I got an iPhone 5!!!" The White/Silver model was the model of choice for those people.

Back on topic... :rolleyes:


On the original EDGE model iPhone, (my favorite design honestly) I agree that the 4GB was truly a pretty rare thing. The Apple Store when I took the plunge with my brother in law both wanted the 8GB but many who just wanted the iPhone experience for less were out of luck. Apple had to have known ahead of time that capacity wasn't truly ideal for such a device.

Also, anyone spending that kind of money at launch most likely wouldn't want anything less than 8GB which was perfect for the time. These days, I often question if 16GB is enough to live with in a base model as app sizes grow and the iOS as a whole as well. I feel 32GB should be the new entry level considering the premium price for the iPhone over other devices which are holding up rather well in comparison.

That debate though is better off in a different thread


As for other rarities, the first iPod touch. Didn't it first have a 4GB option as well?

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hopefully the iPhone 5 will be pretty rare it was only in production for a year but it did sell like hotcakes...

Out of all of them, the Black/Slate might be the most rare of them due to early models having issues with the anodized finish being damaged so easily, often right out of the retail box.

I have one of the last batch it seems as the finish issues never popped up and I've had it nearly a year with T-Mobile.
 
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I'm thinking the original iPhone (4GB) with the original firmware, but perhaps there is another model that is even scarcer.

Are there firmware introductions that didn't last very long? If so, finding an iPhone with that particular firmware would be difficult.

In your opinion, of all the different styles and configurations, which is the rarest iPhone?

The rarest iPhone is the one that lasts all day on a single charge.
 
Apple sold millions of the black iPhone 5. Hardly rare.

How many were returned or exchanged by fanatics here looking for a "perfect" model? Despite the two color options for the iPhone 5, (including five hardware revisions for network connectivity alone) it's one the shortest production runs I've ever seen for an iPhone model lasting exactly one year.

Early adopters often went through many returns to the Apple store for the "perfect finish" whilst tons of threads claiming defects on the Black/Slate model straight out of the package. I may just be one the lucky few.

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The rarest iPhone is the one that lasts all day on a single charge.

I've gotten much longer than that even on LTE and average use of data, email, calls and FaceTime... I normally have over 30% charge remaining.
 
How many were returned or exchanged by fanatics here looking for a "perfect" model? Despite the two color options for the iPhone 5, (including five hardware revisions for network connectivity alone) it's one the shortest production runs I've ever seen for an iPhone model lasting exactly one year.

Early adopters often went through many returns to the Apple store for the "perfect finish" whilst tons of threads claiming defects on the Black/Slate model straight out of the package. I may just be one the lucky few.

Still does nothing to discredit the fact that Apple made millions of them. Not everyone returned theirs. Maybe only a few thousand. Those that were returned got put out again as refurbished.

Will the original 2007 iPhones still work if you pop a modern nano SIM card into them (with an adapter)?

Yes, the tricky part will be getting it activated.
 
Will the original 2007 iPhones still work if you pop a modern nano SIM card into them (with an adapter)?

If the iPhone had been originally activated, then yes (most likely, "yes"- with some possible hiccups).

If not, then more than likely, no (without workarounds).
 
I still have the original iPhone but with 8 GB space. I had the first iPod touch ever made as well but I threw it away the other day when I was cleaning out, it stopped working years ago.
 
Sorry for the late reply, but I did not want to open another post for this. Plus I wanted to supply additional information on the rarest iPhones ever made. Here goes...

To answer your questions, I think that the European version of the iPhone 2g 4GB is the rarest iPhone to date. I came to this conclusion because of the following facts:


- I have read about these iPhones a bit, and looking at their serial numbers most of them were made in week 42 or 43 which is between October 14th - 27th

- the iPhone 2g 4GB was originally discontinued on September 5th and the remaining iPhone 2g 4GB's were only sold "while supplies last"(1)

- this meaning that apple deliberately made some iPhone 2g 4GB versions exclusively for the United Kingdom, Germany, and perhaps more EU countries (though I am only aware of these two countries)

-These versions were made nearly 2 MONTHS after Apple discontinued the iPhone 2g 4GB.

- Of all the posts I have read (these were either Chinese or bad English) People have only "found" this kind of iPhone or bought it from a friend or eBay.

-These iPhones have a different back and different MPN (model part number). The UK version is MB340B and the German version is MB342D, I have not read about any other European versions. The standard US MPN is MA501LL/A

-If you take a look at the picture I have attached you will see that the back cover is unlike any other iPhone 2g 4GB. The 4GB engraving is engraved under "iPhone" then comes the "designed by Apple in California Assembled in China" underneath that the serial number and imei number and under that the logo's "CE", "0682", "!" And a garbage can. These logo's will not be found on any of the US iPhone 2g 4GB's. as to why these logo's will not be found on US models, it is because most of these logo's refer to European regulations.
These logo's have been explained in the second source mentioned at the bottom of this post and it will only take a couple of minutes to skim through this article and it is worth knowing if you live in the EU (or US and you want to gain some knowledge about EU regulations).(2)


I hope I made it clear what the rarest iPhone is. If you do not agree or want further information, do not hesitate to ask me. However, I do not know where these iPhones were sold/given/found. If anyone has any information on that, then that would be a great help as well.

(1)Source:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/200...one-Price-at-399-for-this-Holiday-Season.html

(2)Source:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/02/ask-ars-what-do-the-symbols-on-the-back-of-iphones-mean/

Those logos are on my 5S, and I do quite remember seeing them on my 2G way back. I'm in the US
 
Still does nothing to discredit the fact that Apple made millions of them. Not everyone returned theirs. Maybe only a few thousand. Those that were returned got put out again as refurbished.

There were more than a few thousand. IIRC, the threads here alone were far higher about the subject. Even those who went back over four times just for the smallest scratch.

:rolleyes: I never said anything about refurbished models as replacements. Just finding one alone undamaged during that time is an absolute rarity. Plus due to to some ascetics, I have a feeling the white/silver had sold more. Why you feel the need do get the last word on nearly everything is baffling.

Feel free to babble on...
 
I still have the original iPhone but with 8 GB space. I had the first iPod touch ever made as well but I threw it away the other day when I was cleaning out, it stopped working years ago.

Why would u do that? Could have made some good money off it. Easily. Never throw away stuff especially apple products.
 
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