Still own the original Apple iPhone from 2007? It could be worth a small fortune
We don’t think many people still own an original iPhone from 2007, let alone one that’s in an unopened, shrink-wrapped retail package. Even so, we wouldn’t expect it to fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction. We would also err—a
First generation Apple iPhone attracted 28 bids at LCG auctions, with the winning bid totaling $39,339.60.
“This factory sealed first release example is in exceptional condition. Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam detail and caulking,” the auction description reads. “Back labels are properly intact below the stamp. All original – no aftermarket labels or UPC labels on this one.”
The listing also states that it has never been activated, which of course is a given since it was sold as a phone that has never been opened and is still sealed in its retail box after all these years.
“Collectors and investors would be hard-pressed to find a superior example,” the auction said.
All good things, but that’s still a hefty sum for a 15-year-old smartphone. This is the 8GB model, which sold for $599 when it was released in 2007 (the 4GB model sold for $499). Other specs include a 3.5-inch display with a ridiculous (by today’s standards) 480×320 resolution, a 32-bit Samsung-made Arm processor clocked at 412MHz, a 2-megapixel rear camera, a 1400mAh battery, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones.
Smartphones have grown in leaps and bounds since the original iPhone. For example, the latest generation
iPhone 14 Pro Max it has a 6.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2796×1290 and a refresh rate of 120Hz, a powerful A16 Bionic processor, 6GB of RAM, up to 1TB of built-in storage, a 12MP front camera, a triple rear camera (48MP + 12MP + 12MP), and the list of upgrades continues.
Prices for the iPhone 14 Pro Max range from $1,099 (128GB of storage) to $1,599 (1TB of storage). So to put that into perspective, the original iPhone that
reached over 39,000 dollars in the auction, it is priced equivalent to paying between 24 and 35 iPhone 14 Pro Max models.
It’s hard to fathom, but who knows, the same phone could be worth a fortune in years to come. Apple nostalgia is hot in the auction community—earlier this year, a
1976 computer check signed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak fetched $163,923 at auction, while
signed Apple-1 computer the prototype cost $677,196.
Top Image Source: LCG Auctions
