A rare sealed original 4GB iPhone fetched more than $130,000 in a recent auction, highlighting the high-value collectors place on Apple memorabilia.
What Happened: The 4GB original iPhone was auctioned by LCG Auctions. The device, in pristine condition, surpassed the expected price of over $100,000, with the final sales price reaching $130,027.20.
The high price can be attributed to the rarity of the model. Apple Inc. AAPL discontinued the 4GB iPhone just over two months after its release in 2007.
Launched at $499, the auctioned iPhone fetched its owner over 260 times its original price.
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Interestingly, this model fetched less than two identical models auctioned off in 2023.
In July, one sold for over $190,000, and in October, another fetched $133,435. The auction also saw a business card signed by Steve Jobs sell for $181,183, while an Apple-1 signed by Steve Wozniak went for $323,789.
See Also: Apple Reportedly Readying iOS 18 With Home Screen Redesign And AI Upgrades
Why It Matters: The high value placed on these rare items is not a new phenomenon.
In July 2023, a sealed original iPhone fetched $190,373 at an auction, tripling the previous record of $63,000 set in February that year. In August, bids for a sealed iPhone from 2007 skyrocketed to $45,000, nearly 75 times its original price.
Items related to Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs are also highly sought after. In June 2023, a letter signed by Jobs fetched $480,000 at an auction. In November, an original 4GB iPhone from the first production batch sold for $133,435.
These auctions underscore the high-value collectors place on rare tech items, particularly those associated with Apple and its cofounders.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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