Do you still have old cell phones lying around in your attic? They could be worth gold! It may be worth selling them to collectors.
We spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the latest smartphones to keep up with the technology trend. But if we could finance our new purchase with one of our old telephones? Early cell phones can have tremendous value for collectors, especially if they are still in their original packaging.
Doing a search on eBay, here are the 5 cell phones that are still worth a lot of money. This top 5 of the most expensive cell phones was compiled by comparing prices on popular online shopping sites such as eBay. Prices can vary wildly depending on supply and demand. Whether the phones mentioned here actually achieve the listed price depends on whether there’s a buyer willing to pay.
1st place: Motorola DynaTAC 8000x
Motorola DynaTAC 8000x owners have hit the jackpot. The first commercial mobile phone was released in 1983 and cost around US$4,000. Weighing a kilo and measuring 33 cm, it was not really made for your pocket.
Today, this phone can be worth up to 8,000 euros if it is in very good condition, provided, of course, that an interested buyer is found. In Switzerland, you can bid on a Motorola DynaTAC 8000x (year of manufacture 1983) with original instructions, bag and charging unit on eBay starting from the starting price of 85,000 euros. Those who put 120,000 euros can buy it immediately.
2nd place: iPhone 2G
When Apple launched the first iPhone, the iPhone 2G, in 2007, it was the start of the “smartphone” era. For the first time, it wasn’t just about making phone calls or sending short messages. The iPhone 2G was actually a small pocket computer, extremely easy to use thanks to applications.
Today, the iPhone 2G is technically as good as it is useless. Still, collectors are paying big bucks for a first-generation iPhone. The value largely depends on the state of the phone. For a used iPhone 2G, you can get around 150 euros. Smartphones that are unused or even still in their original packaging can reach up to 2,000 euros. On Ebay, one of them is currently selling for 3,959 euros.
3rd place: Nokia 8110
The Nokia 8110 was launched in 1996 and quickly gained popularity thanks to its appearance in the movie “Matrix” in 1999. With its sliding keyboard and curved shape, it was also called the “Banana Matrix”. Did you have one of these phones in the 90s? If so, you might be pleased to learn that models still in their original packaging can fetch up to three times their original selling price.
However, if the phone is used, its value drops and can reach up to 100 euros.
4th place: Nokia 8800
Finnish manufacturer Nokia’s phones were adored in the 90s and the turn of the millennium. Then Apple came along with the first smartphone and precipitated Nokia’s downfall. Some Nokia phones from that era can be very valuable today, such as the Nokia 8800. Launched in 2005, it was considered a luxury phone thanks to its scratch-resistant screen and elegant sliding mechanism.
Second-hand devices always sell on eBay for between 120 and 200 euros. If, on the other hand, the phone is totally unused, it can reach up to 800 euros. The Nokia 8800 is also available in Arte Carbon and Sirocco editions, which are now worth a lot of money. Sellers on eBay are currently offering these editions for 1200 euros.
5th place: Motorola 3200
It is the successor to the Motorola DynaTAC 8000x and came to market about ten years later. The prices for this device are around 100 euros. If the original packaging is still available, buyers can sometimes pay between 300 and 800 euros.