We don’t know why, but someone agreed to pay nearly $200,000 for an unopened, first-generation Apple iPhone.
For the last few weeks, LCG Auction has been accepting bids on a rare, factory-sealed iPhone, and on Sunday, the winning bid came in at a staggering $190,372.80.
The amount easily crushed previous records. In October, a sealed iPhone sold for $39,339, and in February, another unit went for $63,356.40. So if you happen to have an unopened, first-generation iPhone laying around, you can potentially sell it a small fortune in return in 2023.
(Credit: LCG Auction)This unit probably fetched nearly $200,000 because it’s an exceedingly rare model. LCG Auction called the device a “Holy Grail” for iPhone collectors because it’s a 4GB edition versus 8GB, which were sold in the previous two auctions.
When it launched in 2007, the first-gen iPhone came with either 4GB or 8GB of storage. The former was less popular and eventually discontinued, thus making it harder to find. LCG Auction adds that this particular iPhone also came from someone on Apple’s original iPhone engineering team, which helps explain why the device was never opened.
“Virtually flawless along the surface and edges, the factory seal is clean with correct seam details and tightness,” the auction house said. “Outstanding color and gloss. Brand new, never activated.”
LCG Auction declined to provide details on who placed the winning bid. But it sold for about 380 times more than the original 4GB iPhone when it went on sale in 2007 for $499.