Factory sealed first-gen iPhone sells for $190,000 at auction

This figure is almost 300 times the original cost of the iconic device.

The auctioned iPhone was featured in original condition, preserved in its factory packaging. The auction house LCG Auctions, responsible for the sale, emphasized the exceptional condition of the device and noted that the sender was part of the engineering team of Apple at the time of the debut of the iPhone.

The rarity and quality of this unit has made it highly desirable among collectors and investors.

The bidding process attracted significant interest, with a total of 28 bids submitted, including five surpassing the $100,000 mark. LCG Auctions had previously sold two 8GB variants of the first-generation iPhone for impressive sums of $39,000 and $63,000.

However, what made this auction even more remarkable was the fact that the device was a rare 4GB model, as Apple had produced it for only two months due to overwhelming consumer demand for the version with double the storage capacity.

While the buyer's intentions remain unknown, it is unlikely that they will open the package and use the device. Opening the packaging would significantly reduce its value. In addition, the first generation iPhone is not compatible with modern cellular networks, as 2G networks have already been discontinued in many countries around the world.

In addition, the lack of a front camera and the inability to support the latest versions of iOS make features such as FaceTime and most modern applications unusable.

Nevertheless, the original iPhone could still serve as a functional iPod, allowing the buyer to experience the device's historical significance and iconic design.