Apple products rarely increase in value over time, but a few select antique relics sell for thousands on eBay.
Apple has grown into a $2.2 trillion tech giant – it’s the second most valuable company in the world and a significant spot ahead of Microsoft.
Under the leadership of Steve Jobs and even after his death, Apple reached billions of people, produced iconic advertisements and reinvented retail stores, all while remaining alone at the forefront of technology for personal use.
As Apple has grown, consumers’ appetite for new gadgets has grown along with it.
Families around the world are hoarding years of Apple technology that begins to become obsolete as soon as it hits shelves.
But some rare editions and well-preserved products fetch a small fortune on eBay – find out if you’ve been sitting on an Apple-plated goldmine.
First generation iPod
When the iPod first came out, it was an instant hit – it became a window into someone’s personality.
In Walter Isaacson’s biography of Jobs, he explains that when the device came out, everyone wondered “what’s on your iPod?” – even President George Bush was asked by a reporter about his tunes atop iPod-mania.
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A factory-sealed first-generation iPod is listed on eBay for a staggering $23,000 — while an undamaged first-generation iPod can really be a rare find, a working iPod can fetch you $1,500 on Etsy.
Macintosh 128K
The original Macintosh computer was a feat of design, engineering, and marketing excellence around a single product.
The initial price was set at $2,495, and Apple sold 70,000 units in the first 100 days.
A slightly damaged Macintosh can be purchased on eBay for $499.99 – but an expert told CNBC News other units cost between $1,500 and $2,000.
iBook G3
The iBook looks clunky by today’s standards, but its modified clamshell design and colorful options were cutting-edge at the time.
It was the first laptop to truly exploit Wi-Fi and mobile computing.
The iBook has a range of prices on eBay, most around $200 – but one seller with a collection of iBooks is asking $1,300 for one of their units.
First generation iPad
The iPad was released in 2010 with a marketing blitz pushing the product.
An episode of Modern Family, the highest-ranking sitcom of that year, was all iPad-centric — the episode was called “Game Changer.”
The iPad line is still working and updating today, hurting the appreciation value of past designs — a well-functioning first-generation iPad can fetch you around $55 on eBay.
First generation iPod Shuffle
Engineers working on the iPod Shuffle worked on making the screen smaller and smaller – until Jobs recommended removing the screen altogether.
Jobs saw that people curated their own music libraries — no matter what, they chose to put the device on and listen.
Selling a first-gen Shuffle won’t make you rich — an eBay listing has it priced at just $13.
Products in perfect condition will always be more expensive than used devices – it’s a good reason to buy a random Apple product, never open it and hope it will skyrocket as a vintage product. in years.
If you have outdated Apple technologies and selling intentions, be sure to check the market – you don’t want to undersell a nugget of Apple history.
This story originally appeared on The sun and has been reproduced here with permission.
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