A factory-sealed first-generation iPhone has sold for $63,356 at auction, following 27 bids that started at $2,500, highlighting growing demand for vintage tech collectibles.
The device, originally purchased for $599, belonged to Karen Green, a tattoo artist who received it as a gift when starting a new job.
Green kept the phone unopened in its original packaging as she already owned another mobile device.
The 2007 iPhone, featuring 16GB storage and a 2-megapixel camera, was initially valued at $5,000 in 2019.
Experts say the sealed condition added 10-25% to its value.
“I thought, come on, it’s an iPhone, it’s never going to go out of style”, Green said about her decision to preserve the device.
Market specialists suggest the vintage technology collectibles market is just beginning to emerge, as contemporary smartphones now feature up to 1TB storage and 48-megapixel cameras.
(information from in.gr)
