YouTuber bids for original iPhone for $40,000 and unboxes it

Earlier this year, auctions of original iPhones in unopened boxes caused a stir because of record prices. Now it became known who was one of the buyers. A famous YouTuber paid $40,000 to unbox the iconic device 16 years after its release.

YouTuber MKBHD bids for original iPhone for $40,320

When it comes to collectibles in the iPhone world, little beats an original iPhone sealed as it came from the factory. Earlier this year we reported on the exorbitant sums paid at auction for coveted pieces of tech history. Now, at least with an iPhone, it is clear into which hands it has fallen. YouTuber MKBHD, real name Marques Brownlee, paid $40,000 for an Apple iPhone 1 in pristine condition. Instead of putting it in the display case, it is unpacked.

As Brownlee explains, because of the high value of original iPhones in unopened packaging, there is a big business in counterfeiting. A total of around 6 million units were sold from the first iPhone, the market for models with collector’s quality makes up only a small fraction of this and will of course continue to shrink. However, the YouTuber suspects that with the top prices recently achieved, the zenith for the increase in value could have been reached for the time being.

Almost a bargain

At the beginning of the year, an auction ended with a price of almost 64,000 US dollars – a previous record. Brownlee was able to purchase his model at an auction in Chicago a few weeks ago. Its price: $40,320. Why this big difference? Although there is an unusual “Lucky you” sticker on the packaging of the MKBHD iPhone, a tiny tear in the plastic packaging significantly reduces the value. The authenticity and completeness of the content was verified with X-rays, among other things.

See also:

Apple Iphone Auction Original iPhone 1 Sealed
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