The latest iPhone is that iPhone 14was launched last September – but it all started way back in 2007, and the very first Apple-made smartphones released that year are now worth a little more than their initial asking price of $499.
An original, unopened iPhone 1 is now included for auction (opens in new tab) (above AppleInsider (opens in new tab)) and is expected to fetch up to US$50,000 (that’s around £41,480 / AU$72,235 at today’s exchange rate). That’s not a bad return after 16 years.
According to the auction list, this is “one of the most important and ubiquitous inventions of our lives,” a device that “changed the smartphone industry forever” and is now “widely regarded as a blue-chip asset among high-end collectors.” .
The device of the century
Auctioneers point to two previous auctions for similar items approaching the $40,000 mark, and it seems the price is likely to rise over the years. As of this writing, the top bid for the item is over $11,000, with the auction running until next Thursday.
It’s clearly one of the most important gadgets of the century – maybe the gadget of the century – but it no longer holds itself as a phone: the screen is a tiny 3.5 inches from corner to corner (with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels). ) and the maximum memory is 16 GB. There is a single 2 MP camera on the back.
Our test of the first iPhone is still available online, and while we liked the intuitive interface and the “glossy screen,” we were let down by the lack of 3G connectivity (remember?) and the fixed-focus camera.
Analysis: Clean out drawers
Seeing the price of an Apple iPhone 1 increase hundreds of times over the course of 16 years shows just how iconic this particular smartphone is – so it’s worth scouring your drawers at home for old and vintage tech, but expect Don’t you make a fortune from yours Google Pixel 2For example.
It’s not just age that matters when it comes to making reviews for older technology, but also the manufacturer and the place a device occupies in history. Collectors seem to love Apple, and you may recall that an Apple 1 computer built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak fetched a whopping $400,000 back in 2021.
Condition is also crucial – you won’t get nearly as much for your classic devices if you use them for a few years before stuffing them back in their box. If you plan to get into the long-term tech investment game, keep your electronics sealed in their original packaging.
It’s hard to predict what the next must-have piece of tech collectible might be, but slots and Apple gadgets are probably good bets – if you can afford one, it might be worth keeping one Apple AR/VR Headset or a Nintendo Switch 2 stowed away somewhere in case and when they finally take off.
