Your outdated iPhone could possibly be value huge bucks. Right here's what to search for

(NEXSTAR) – The latest iPhone fashions are at present obtainable for preorder, but it surely’s the older ones you would possibly really need.

With Gen Xers and Millennials now starting to really feel pangs of nostalgia for the technology of their youthful years, some technophiles are keen to pay huge bucks on your earlier iDevices.

“The rarity, shortage, and the collectability of those items, it’s simply turning into nostalgic with the 40-to-50-year-old group of shoppers,” Bobby Eaton, of RR Auctions in New Hampshire, instructed Nexstar.

Eaton is speaking principally about iPhones. Lately, RR Auctions has facilitated the sale of quite a few first-generation iPhones, certainly one of which went for over $147,000 in March. Final 12 months, one other uncommon specimen went on the public sale block at LCG Auctions in Louisiana, the place it offered for a file $190,373.

“As everyone knows, the iPhone change the world,” Eaton instructed Nexstar. “So within the final three years, iPhones — particularly sealed iPhones — are going up in worth relying on what mannequin they’re.”

However collectors aren’t searching for simply any outdated iPhone. Very like video games and VHS tapes, the telephones promoting for the very best costs are manufacturing unit sealed, and in mint situation. And proper now, solely sure fashions are coveted by collectors — specifically, the first-generation 4 GB and eight GB fashions which debuted in 2007, together with the 8 GB mannequin with an iTunes brand on the duvet of the field.

“Apart from the first-generation merchandise, the market drastically modifications,” Eaton mentioned. “There’s not that collectability but for [later] fashions.”

Probably the most invaluable iPhone of the three talked about above — far and away — is the 4 GB mannequin, which was discontinued when Apple dropped the worth of the 8 GB model solely two months after the 4 GB model’s debut. (The massive sellers talked about above have been each 4 GB fashions.) However the 8 GB fashions fetch a reasonably penny too, particularly if it’s the sooner model, earlier than a picture of the iTunes app was added to the product photo on the outside of the box.

Opened first-generation iPhones would possibly even be value just a few thousand, however they should be in mint situation, in accordance with Eaton. In the event that they present indicators of use or harm, they’re principally value “nothing” to a collector, he mentioned.

Aside from iPhones, first-generation iPods and iPads are additionally fairly invaluable to collectors, however, once more, provided that they’re in nice situation, and ideally sealed.

However what if you happen to’re in possession of one other telephone model, like a Samsung or an Android? Sorry, however the worth of early fashions is “not even shut” to what an Apple fanatic would pay for an iPhone, in accordance with Eaton.

“Most likely the one comparable factor that we’ve offered to the iPhone is … an early Motorola flip telephone that was sealed within the field,” Eaton mentioned. “And it offered for $250.”

Nonetheless assume you’re sitting on an iGoldmine? For those who occur to have a extra invaluable sealed iPhone specimen, first test the serial numbers and IMEI numbers on the field to substantiate it was by no means activated. (Fraudsters have been identified to shrink-wrap used iPhones and move them off as factory-sealed, Eaton defined.) You may try to get it graded by a grading service, too, however Eaton mentioned you could possibly simply submit photographs straight to public sale homes specializing in classic know-how, to listen to their ideas.

You would possibly need to do this prior to later, too. Whereas Eaton doesn’t imagine curiosity is waning, he can’t predict how a lot collectors within the coming years will probably be keen to pay for early iPhones, iPods and iPads.

“If one thing is tremendous uncommon, there’s going to at all times be a marketplace for it,” Eaton mentioned. “It won’t be the costs we’re getting now, however they’re going to have substantial worth.”