The iPhone 2G was launched in 2007 for US$ 499 (regarding R$ 2.5 thousand), but its value can increase a lot, as it has become a relic for those who collect cell phones. This is the case of a unit that will be auctioned by LCG Auctions on February 19th. The estimate is that the smartphone will be sold for up to US$ 50 thousand (~R$ 252 thousand).
According to Business Insider, the device was originally a gift received by Karen Green, who even took it out of the box and kept it sealed for all this time, as she had other phones at the time. Now it will be sold sealed to the highest bidder. LCG Auctions states that bids should start at US$2,500 or around R$12,600 in direct conversion.
Despite this, the estimated value for this relic is US$ 50,000, surpassing the value purchased by another iPhone 2G unit that was sold in October 2022 for almost US$ 40,000.
Karen, who now works as a tattoo artist in New Jersey, says she only realized the value of her iPhone when she saw a similar model sold in 2012 on eBay for regarding $10,000. Despite this, she decided to keep the phone sealed in the box for longer until she saw a unit sold for $40,000 on the internet.
Karen’s iPhone 2G is the model with 8GB of storage sold in the US, which means it was one of the first units sold following launch. With the money, the tattoo artist says she will invest in her own business that needs more capital at the moment.
