- In a YouTube video, MKBHD unpacks an unboxed first-generation iPhone
- This iPhone fetched $40,000 at auction
- Today it is a treasured collector’s item worth a fortune.
In 2023, an original iPhone (from 2007) still sealed is worth a fortune. It is indeed a very rare object looted by collectors. For example, one of these iPhone 2Gs, still sealed, sold for $63,356 in February. In any case, the phenomenon has not escaped the attention of YouTuber MKBHD or Marques Brownlee, who bought one at auction for $40,000.
nostalgia
Instead of collecting the iPhone 2G and leaving the packaging intact, MKBHD instead chose to unbox this rare $40,000 item in a video on his YouTube channel. After the smartphone has been removed from the shipping carton, MKBHD cuts open the blister with a cutter knife. A gesture that will decrease the value of the device in a few seconds.
Otherwise, it’s worth noting that the iPhone purchased by MKBHD is even rarer as it had a “Lucky You” sticker on the box. The Youtuber asked Apple about it. And the company replied that it is a sticker used by some stores in 2007, specifically for iPhones to give away.
Also fun fact, while this was being edited we actually received confirmation from Apple that this mysterious “Lucky You” sticker was definitely used by some Apple retail stores in 2007, sometimes centered around gift purchases. The icing on the cake that confirms it’s all real
– Brownlee Brands (@MKBHD) April 20, 2023
In any case, the video is an opportunity to rediscover this historic product that marked the beginning of a new era for mobile phones, as well as its various accessories. For example, Brownlee reminds us that when the first iPhone was launched, there was no app store.
Beware of scams
In his video, Marques Brownlee also warns against scams in which a used first-gen iPhone is resealed to make it appear like a rare item (like the iPhone he bought for $40,000). Some Youtuber would have been there too.
One of the ways to check if an iPhone hasn’t been used is to check the serial number on Apple’s website. This should normally indicate that the device has not yet been activated. But a first-generation iPhone not only has to be unactivated, it also has to be sealed in a blister pack in order to be sold for gold on auction sites.
i-nfo.fr – Official App iPhon.fr
i-nfo.fr – Official App iPhon.frBy: Keleops AG