This week Apple announced it was discontinuing the iPod – one of its most successful products that revolutionized the way we listen to music.
Apple released its first iPod Classic in 2001 with a $399 price tag, shocking fans who had grown accustomed to using significantly cheaper portable CD players and Walkmans.
Fast forward almost 21 years to today, and your old iPods could now be worth a staggering amount of money.
Amid news of his discontinuation, listings for iPods on eBay have soared, with many sellers asking huge sums of money for their retro devices.
Speaking to MailOnline, James Andrews, senior personal finance editor at money.co.uk, said: “With iPods being phased out, you might be wondering if it’s time to monetize some of your old technology.
“The first thing to say is don’t get upset by listing prices on ebay. While some models sell for thousands, the vast majority sell for far less.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up a reasonable amount. Do a search and check recent sale prices for models like your own to see what you’re likely to get.
“In general, the best prices go to iPod Classic models that are in great condition and have all the necessary cables. If you’re lucky enough to have an unopened 2004 U2 Special Edition iPod in the back of a closet, you could make thousands.
From the original iPod Classic to the brightly colored iPod Mini, here’s how much your old Apple devices could be worth.
Amid news of his discontinuation, listings for iPods on eBay have soared, with many sellers asking huge sums of money for their retro devices
History of iPod models
– iPod Classic (seven generations, 2001-2008)
– iPod Mini (two generations, 2004-2005)
– iPod Nano (seven generations, 2005-2012)
– iPod Shuffle (four generations, 2005-2010)
– iPod Touch (seven generations, 2007-2019)
iPod classic
The first iPod Classic was released in October 2001 and cost $399. By 2008, six more generations came onto the market.
If you have a first-generation iPod Classic in the back of your drawer, you’re in for a treat.
Yesterday, a 1st generation iPod Classic 5GB sold on eBay for $1,599 with an additional $114.60 shipping – a 330 percent increase over the original price!
Newer generations are also popular on eBay, with a seventh-generation iPod Classic selling for $1,388 in April and another for $1,045 in February.
One ambitious seller listed his 2019 first-generation iPod Classic on eBay for $19,995 (£15,367), although it’s unclear how much the item actually fetched.
ipod mini
The iPod Mini, released in 2004, was slightly smaller than the iPod Classic and came in a range of bright colors.
At $249, it was slightly cheaper than its predecessor, making it a popular choice among Apple fans.
Unfortunately, the iPod Mini isn’t worth much just yet when you look at the items sold on eBay.
On May 3, a second-generation iPod mini sold on eBay for $324.99, while a first-generation unit sold for just $290 in March.
iPod shuffle
Apple released its first screenless iPod in 2005 in the form of the iPod Shuffle, which started at just $99.
Like the iPod mini, the iPod shuffle doesn’t appear to have increased in value enormously.
A first-generation iPod Shuffle fetched just $129.99 on eBay in February, while a second-generation device sold for a modest $199.99 in March.
Apple released its first screenless iPod in 2005 in the form of the iPod Shuffle, which started at just $99
iPod Nano
Also released in 2005, the iPod Nano was priced at $149 and was considered a major modernization over the Shuffle thanks to its color screen for album art.
According to recent eBay auctions, this device has more than doubled in value.
In March, second-generation iPod Nanos sold for $399.99 and $382.47.
Also released in 2005, the iPod Nano was priced at $149 and was considered a major modernization over the Shuffle thanks to its color screen for album art
iPod touch
While many of us now take touchscreen devices for granted, the iPod Touch was revolutionary when it was released in 2007.
The $299 device could surf the web when connected to Wi-Fi and had 8GB of storage for songs, photos, and apps.
If you have an iPod Touch at home, you’ll be pleased to know that its value has skyrocketed.
In March, a fourth-generation iPod Touch sold for a whopping $6,524.07 – a whopping 2,081 percent increase over the original price – while a sixth-generation device sold for $3,470 in April.
If you have an iPod Touch at home, you’ll be pleased to know that its value has skyrocketed
Why is Apple discontinuing the iPod?
A spokesman for Apple said the iPod has redefined how music is discovered and heard, and that its spirit “lives on” in other devices.
“Music has always been part of our core at Apple,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.
“Bringing it to hundreds of millions of users like the iPod hasn’t just impacted the music industry — it’s also redefined how music is discovered, heard and shared.
“Today, the spirit of the iPod lives on. We’ve built an incredible music experience into all of our products, from iPhone to Apple Watch to HomePod mini to Mac, iPad and Apple TV.
“And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound quality with support for spatial audio – there’s no better way to enjoy, discover and experience music.”
APPLE’S TRILLION DOLLAR RISE
The company’s road to the pinnacle of the technology industry was rocky after watching Jobs (pictured right in 1976) leave the company in the mid-1980s after his pet project, the first Macintosh computer, ran into trouble and he was trying to build it to oust CEO John Sculley. Wozniak is pictured at left
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded the company on April 1, 1976 when they set out to sell computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, the first personal computer made for the mass market.
1981: Jobs becomes chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during a Super Bowl commercial break and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the company.
1987: Apple releases the Macintosh II, the first color Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that sees Jobs return to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took on the role in 2000.
2001: Apple introduces iTunes, OS X and the first generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was unveiled at an event in Cupertino on October 23, 2001 and could store up to 1,000 songs.
On February 6, 1984, Steve Jobs presented the new Macintosh from Apple Computer Corporation in California.
Apple’s Chief Executive Officer at the time, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2007: Apple introduces the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was introduced.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing over the CEO title to Tim Cook. Job died of pancreatic cancer in October.
2014: Apple introduced the Apple Watch. It also introduced its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After buying Beats from Dr. Dre launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.
2016: Apple went back to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the company is embroiled in a lawsuit with the FBI over which the agency is seeking access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shooting after he and his wife were fatally attacked in December San Bernardino, California. The court order was overturned on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to identify face-only phones to unlock the owner.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage their devices and spend less time on them. The move was prompted by a strongly worded letter from shareholders urging the company to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among children and young people.
2019: In January, Apple reports the first drop in sales and profits in ten years. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed strong sales declines in China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all of its brick-and-mortar retail stores outside of China in response to the coronavirus.