Your old iPhone and iPod could be worth a significant amount of money. A first-generation 2007 iPhone recently sold for more than $63,000 in an online auction, while an original 2001 iPod classic is worth $49,000.
Original iPhones routinely selling for $25,000
Old iPhones are suddenly in demand by collectors, and the older and less used a phone is, the more it is worth.
Presently, first-generation iPhones with 8 GB of memory, factory sealed and never opened, are starting between $18,000-$25,000 at auction sites, the Daily Star reported.
Last week, a first-generation 2007 iPhone fetched over $63,000 in an online auction, CNN reported.
Even if your old iPhone isn’t still new in the box, it still could fetch a lot of cash. First-generation iPhones are ranging between $250 to $3000 depending on their condition and level of wear.
About the iPhone
Since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, Apple has released a new model annually. The latest model is the iPhone 14, released in September 2022. Since its inception, the so-called “lifespan” of an iPhone – the time until it is considered obsolete by the introduction of a newer model – has diminished from roughly 2 years and 11 months with the first model, to approximately 5 months with the current model.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone on January 9, 2007. It had a 3.5-inch screen and 480X320 resolution, with 4, 8, or 16GB of storage, and a 2.0 MP rear camera. It was replaced the following year by the iPhone 3G. Its launch price was $499/$599.
The iPhone 14 starts at $799, the Plus starts at $899, the Pro starts at $999, and the Pro Max starts at $1099 up to $1599.
Original iPods also fetching thousands of dollars
Original iPhones aren’t the only thing fetching massive prices. Since Apple discontinued the iPod, it has not only increased demand for the now-obsolete device but has sent prices skyrocketing.
An original 2001 iPod classic is selling for as much as $49,000 on resale websites, the New York Post reported. A fourth-generation red-and-black special edition that Apple sold in partnership with the band U2, recently sold for $90,000.
About the iPod
The first iPod was released on October 23, 2001. While it wasn’t the first digital media player, capitalizing on weaknesses in other models, it became the best MP3 player, and eventually with the iPod touch model, was essentially an iPhone, without the phone capability.
In the “iPod classic line, the first-generation iPod had 5 or 10 GB storage capacity, was connected via FireWire, and was Mac-only compatible. The second generation doubled storage and added Windows compatibility. The third-generation model released in 2003, had 10/15/20/30/40 GB storage capability and was connected through FireWire or USB for syncing. The fourth-generation model allowed FireWire or USB connectivity. The fourth-generation iPod photo model with color display added the ability to store photos and perform photo slideshows to external displays or a television. The 5th-generation “iPod video” was the first to feature video playback capability in MPEG-4.
Apple discontinued the iPod product line on May 10, 2022.
