Old-school Apple products, particularly iPods from the early 2000s, have become lucrative collectibles, with some models selling for thousands of pounds on auction sites like eBay. The trend mirrors earlier crazes for baseball cards, Star Wars figurines, and Beanie Babies, and has intensified since Apple discontinued the iPod in September 2014.
Prices vary widely: a factory-sealed third-generation iPod shuffle is listed at $999.95, a mint fifth-generation iPod classic at $1,394.99, and a silver first-generation iPod mini at $2,499.99. Special editions command even higher sums—a used fourth-generation red-and-black U2 edition sells for around $7,000, while a first-generation iPod classic, described as having a good battery for its age, is priced at $9,999.99. A second-generation, boxed iPod classic with the moving wheel is listed at an extraordinary $19,999.99.
According to Terapeak, a company that tracks collectible pricing on eBay, classic iPods in original packaging have reached collectible levels, with one U2 special edition selling for $90,000 in November. Even late-model iPod prices have risen considerably since discontinuation. Apple memorabilia also trades for high sums, such as an advertisement for the first iPod at $8,999.99 and an Apple store window display for $5,599.
Hermie Brieto, a Los Angeles seller of sports memorabilia, recently sold a similar window display for $2,000. He attributes the growing demand for Apple-related goods to the company's history and the legacy of Steve Jobs. Full collections can fetch even more: a boxed set of first-generation iPods in three memory sizes is listed for $50,000, as is a collectors' set of fourth-generation iPod classics including the U2 edition. A collection of vintage Apple computers, including the Apple Newton, is priced for a 'quick sale' at $109,000.
Michael Freedman, who lives near the Dead Sea in Israel, is building a collection of every iPod model ever made, all in original packaging. He started when he received an iPod as a gift and was too impressed to open it. 'I think the most value is in the collection itself,' he said, now looking to sell and start a new collection of old phones.
