From abandonment to record: ‘forgotten’ iPhone becomes one of the world’s most expensive at auction

The smartphone universe is full of expensive devices. However, would you believe it if someone said that Apple’s first iPhone is the most valuable phone of all? Well, it is.

An old, extremely rare model with just 4 GB of storage won the title of the most expensive device in history in an impressive auction.

The most expensive cell phone title ever sold at auction was the 8GB iPhone from 2007, costing US$63,356.40, according to the renowned publication Ars Technica.

However, this record was recently surpassed by the 4GB model, which is even rarer. The final bid reached US$ 158 thousand, but, with administrative costs, the total value reached the impressive mark of US$ 190 thousand (approximately R$ 914 thousand), in an auction held last Saturday (15/7) .

This extraordinary sale not only surpassed the previous record, but also left experts surprised by the dizzying increase in value. The 4GB iPhone, which originally cost $500, has seen a price increase of an astonishing 38,050.86%.

The initial expectation was that the device would be sold for between US$50,000 and US$100,000. However, the fierce demand drove the price to unimaginable levels, making it cost almost 1 million reais.

Photo: Pexels

A preserved relic

When Apple launched the first iPhone in 2007, the device was available with two storage options: a 4 GB version and an 8 GB version.

Since the price difference between the two models was small, most buyers opted for the 8 GB model, resulting in the rapid discontinuation of the 4 GB model, which soon became a real rarity.

According to LCG Auctions’ auction page, the seller of the rarity at auction was part of Apple’s original engineering team during the launch of the pioneering model.

The auction description highlights that collectors and investors would have extreme difficulty finding a copy like the one being sold.

So, here’s a tip! Consider saving valuable relics that could become treasures in the future. Rare items, such as old technological devices, unique works of art, or historical objects, can acquire significant value over time.