2024-01-17 09:31:59
In the world of Mobile technologythe latest models that integrate cameras high resolution, chips with greater processing capacity and even artificial intelligence They managed to quickly eclipse their predecessors. However, there is a growing fascination with old cell phoneswhich marked an era for 40 years.
Despite its limited but endearing characteristics, like those models with “lid”, removable battery or those that were shaped like a suitcase; These devices made a special place in the hearts of collectors, who They pay up to 4,000 dollars for having one in your display case.
The nostalgia, iconic design and history What they contain are just some of the reasons why old cell phones cause a sensation among those fans of the evolution of technology.
Next, what are the models of old cell phones most coveted by collectors.
DynaTAC 8000x
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, world’s first cell phone. Photo Archive.
If it comes to iconic phones, there is the pioneer Motorola DynaTAC 8000x. It is precious because it was the first mobile device to be marketed, back in 1983.
It was a large, rectangular device, with a retractable antenna on top. In fact, its shape earned it the nickname “brick”.
The phone had a rechargeable battery that provided approximately 30 minutes of talk time and 8 hours of standby time. Fully charging the battery took several hours.
Adam McDonald, host of the show Aussie Pickers – the Australian adaptation of the collecting reality show American Pickers – assures that collectors are willing to pay up to $4,000 dollars por un DynaTAC 8000x.
iPhone 1
The first of the iPhone family smartphones was launched in 2007.
Perhaps it is also obvious, and if it is not, at least it is incontestable that the iPhone started the smartphone revolution.
The first generation iPhone stood out for its minimalist and elegant design, with a 3.5-inch touch screen and a single physical button on the front. Its rear casing was made of aluminum and it had a 2 megapixel camera on the back.
Likewise, the team had the first version of the iOS operating system (previously known as iPhone OS). Its intuitive touch interface laid the foundation for most modern smartphones.
Currently its price varies, but anyone who has one in good condition could easily sell it for up to a few $1,000 dollarsaccording to some auction houses.
Nokia Mobile Talkman
Nokia Mobira Talkman was launched in 1984.
This was the Nokia’s first “cell phone”. Unlike its predecessor, the Nokia Mobira Senator, designed to be installed in a car, the Finnish manufacturer Nokia opted for portability, going for total portability by attaching a headset to a briefcase.
To take dimension of its size, the Nokia Mobira Talkman was large 35 x 15 x 45 centimeters (width x height x depth) and weighed 5 kilograms compared to modern mobile phones. It had a retractable antenna and a small screen.
The Talkman’s battery was rechargeable and allowed approximately 30 minutes of talk time and up to 10 hours in standby mode.
If you have one in good condition, it could be sold in a few $800 dollars.
Nokia 8110 or Nokia Matrix
Nokia 8110 was used in the movie Matrix to emphasize the futuristic and technological style of the story.
The phone that became a success in the late 90s thanks to its appearance in The Matrix. He was also directly identified as “Neo’s” thanks to the influence of the Wachowski brothers’ film on pop culture.
The Nokia 8110 has a distinctive design with a curved shape and a sliding keyboard. When the keypad was closed, the phone had an oval shape that resembled a banana peel. Sliding the keyboard down revealed the screen and the numeric keypad.
Keanu Reeves, Neo in the film Matrix, with a Nokia 8110.
Unlike its relaunch in 2018, the original version was a GSM phone that offered mobile connectivity in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands. It had a removable and rechargeable battery.
It is important to note that the original Nokia 8110 did not have a camera, as it was released at a time when mobile phones did not usually include cameras.
Anyone who still owns one of these phones from the pre-smartphone era, according to auction specialists, could sell it for at least $200 dollars.
Motorola StarTac 130
StarTac, a Motorola icon.
Another classic mobile phone that is highly sought after by collectors. The Serie StarTac Motorola set the tone that popularized flip phone type cell phones that are currently having a kind of resurgence with folding models, such as the Motorola Razr in the early 2000s and its subsequent relaunch in 2019.
Precisely, one of the most notable features of the StarTAC 130 is its foldable form factor. It could be opened and closed like a flip phone, making it more compact and easier to carry.
Unlike many of its predecessors, the StarTAC 130 featured an internal antenna, improving its aesthetic appearance and making it more convenient for everyday use.
It had a small screen and a physical numeric keypad on the front of the device. The screen was not color and was quite simple compared to modern screens.
It had a removable battery that provided adequate autonomy for the time. However, compared to modern phone batteries, battery life was relatively limited.
Currently, one of these phones can be sold for up to $450 dollars on e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or eBay or 150,000 pesos in Mercado Libre
Ericsson T10
Ericsson T10, another remembered model.
With the end of the millennium came another device that followed the flip phone design of the StarTac 130. The Swedish company Ericsson launched the model T10 which demonstrated, among other things, that cell phones could have colors to show personality. Additionally, he had a wide range of tones that greatly differentiated him from his competitors.
Like other models in the late 90s, Ericsson T10c weighed 135 grams and had a monochrome screen. It had vibration, ringtones and even a melody composer.
But for auctioneers there is no need to get their hopes up about its price: most valued it at approximately $100 dollars.
Nokia 7700
An authentic piece desired by collectors. Nokia announced the model 7700 as a cutting-edge device, with a color screen and different functions, including the possibility of being a streaming signal receiver.
But its design did not satisfy users, and after the failure of the N-Gage in 2003, the first gamer cell phone in history; Nokia decided to cancel it in 2004 and it never came to market.
Collectors pay for one of these relics in up to $2000 dollars.
The most expensive iPhone in the world
The 2007 iPhone that was auctioned by LCG Auctions.
Last July, the American auction house LCG Auctions auctioned off a first generation iPhone (2007), the first one presented by Steve Jobs, in a closed box and with its corresponding protective film. Initially, they estimated an auction closing with offers of between $50,000 and $100,000, although the forecasts were exceeded by almost doubling the price of the lot.
In this case, the final offer made with the precious unit reached the figure of $190,372.80an unthinkable cost except for a collector or fan of Apple products.
The iPhone for which more than 63 thousand dollars was paid was in its original closed box (Photo: LCG Auctions)
The last precedent of this type was in February 2023, when the same entity sold another immaculate Apple phone in more than 63 thousand dollars.
This type of cell phone is highly sought after by collectors because not many of the phones were manufactured. Most people decided to buy the 8GB version, which was released at the same time, because it had twice the storage and was only $100 more.
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