December 14, 2024
Purported First-Generation iPhone Prototype Sold on eBay for $1,499

Purported First-Generation iPhone Prototype Sold on eBay for $1,499

Posted December 30, 2013 at 5:42pm by iClarified
A rare, first-generation iPhone (often called the iPhone 2G) engineering prototype has been sold on eBay for $1,499. The devices looks to be in great condition with no scratching. On the back, you can see various signal strength measurements of Bluetooth, WiFi and GSM etched.

Here it goes! My wife says I have too much stuff, so I have to reduce my collection.

I am selling a very rare original iPhone engineering prototype. These were used to test the
iPhone's various features. To do so, a special test software was installed, which is still running
on the device perfectly.


This is device is especially rare, as it shows the initial iOS version installed and the signal
strength values etched on the back. This was done by Apple internally and is guaranteed genuine.

I am collecting Apple products for ages and I know of only 5 such devices in existence,
I saw another one a few weeks back on eBay, but the auction was stopped ( possibly by Apple ).


Although there is no way to confirm its authenticity, the phone does run a special internal OS that Apple uses to conduct tests on the device. We have seen that OS on similar prototypes in the past but eBay is usually quick to remove these prototype listings. This time, it appears the winner, a reddit user was able to quickly snag the item through the buy-it-now before eBay removed the item.

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Purported First-Generation iPhone Prototype Sold on eBay for $1,499
Purported First-Generation iPhone Prototype Sold on eBay for $1,499
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Comments (5)
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Russell
Russell - December 31, 2013 at 9:26pm
Apple is getting sloppy.
I'm surprised they didn't demand the return of the phone since Apple would never transfer ownership of a prototype device to anyone.
gamerscul9870
gamerscul9870 - December 31, 2013 at 9:30pm
Your comment is sounding wonky!
Sawyerrrr
Sawyerrrr - December 30, 2013 at 6:33pm
I love how "serial number" is a box of cereal.
gamerscul9870
gamerscul9870 - December 30, 2013 at 6:00pm
"This is device is especially rare". Learn grammar, writer.
rob
rob - December 30, 2013 at 6:10pm
The "writer" as you put it, is simply pasting a quote.
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