The first generation Apple iPhone debuted 15 years ago with a USD499 starting price. That hasn’t stopped someone from paying a whopping USD39,339.60 (RM185,918.95) for it though at a recent auction.
At the 2022 Fall Premier Auction by LCG Auctions, a first release iPhone still in its box was put up for sale with a starting bid of USD2,500. By the time the auction closed tho, the bids would sky rocket past the estimated USD30,000 the auctioneers had expected it to fetch. According to the listing, this iPhone is ‘virtually flawless’ along all surfaces and edges, with the factory seal still clean and the labels on the reverse side in pristine condition.
“All original – no aftermarket stickers or UPC labels on this one. Brand new, never activated. Collectors and investors would be hard pressed to find a superior example,” – LCG Auctions
The iPhone in question happens to be the model with 8GB of storage, which would’ve sold for USD599 back in 2007. Packing a 32-bit Samsung processor with 128MB of RAM, the original iPhone had a 3.5-inch screen with a 320p display, one of the first to incorporate multi-touch technology. There was also a 2MP camera with geotagging functionalities, and ran the original iPhone OS software.
It would go on to sell 6.1 million units worldwide, and received mostly positive reviews, even being named as the Invention of the Year by Time magazine in 2007. While undoubtedly one of the most important and influential tech products launched this century, whether or not one still sealed in its box is worth almost USD40,000 though is probably a bit more debatable.
