That dusty old Apple gadget you tucked away years ago might not be junk. Actually, it could be sitting on a small fortune without even realizing it. Tech collectors have gone wild for vintage Apple products, and the prices at auction houses have climbed to levels that seem almost absurd.
Some of these forgotten devices are now fetching thousands, even hundreds of thousands, at specialty auctions. It’s hard to believe that something you nearly tossed in the trash could now pay for a vacation or cover a down payment. Let’s explore six early Apple products that transformed from outdated technology into surprisingly valuable collectibles.
Original iPhone (2007): The Device That Changed Everything
When Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in January 2007, nobody imagined these devices would someday sell for almost as much as a luxury car. A factory-sealed, first-generation Apple iPhone 4GB from 2007 sold for $190,000 in August 2023, far exceeding its original price tag. The rarer 4GB model only stayed on the market for a couple of months before Apple discontinued it in favor of larger storage options.
Even the more common 8GB versions command impressive sums now. A first-generation iPhone still sealed inside its box sold for $54,904 at auction in early 2023. Several similar devices have sold between $35,000 and $63,000 depending on condition and provenance. An unopened 4GB iPhone sold at LCG Auctions in 2023 for $190,372.80, proving the intense collector interest hasn’t cooled.
What makes these original iPhones so valuable? Scarcity plays a huge role. Most people ripped open their boxes immediately to use the revolutionary touchscreen device. Factory-sealed units in pristine condition are extraordinarily rare, especially the 4GB variant that barely had time to reach shelves.
First-Generation iPod (2001): When 1,000 Songs Fit in Your Pocket
The original iPod revolutionized how we carried music around, and collectors now treat these devices like historical artifacts. The $29,000 record equates to a roughly 73x increase in value compared to the original retail price of $399. Sought-after unopened first generation original Apple iPod (5GB), Model M8541, Order M8513LL/A units have become centerpieces of Apple memorabilia collections.
Honestly, it’s wild to think about. These chunky music players with their mechanical scroll wheels now fetch prices that could buy you a decent used car. The original iPod can sell for around $1,000 in a well-preserved state, even without the original packaging. Sealed examples command far more, sometimes reaching $25,000 or higher depending on condition.
The market for vintage iPods has created distinct value tiers. Later generations typically sell for much less, but those earliest models from 2001 remain highly sought after. Collectors particularly prize units that still include the original retail packaging, manuals, and even the FireWire cable that came in the box.
Apple Newton MessagePad (1993): The PDA That Was Too Early
The MessagePad is a series of personal digital assistant devices developed by Apple Computer for the Newton platform, first released in 1993, starting at a price of $699. The Newton became infamous for its flawed handwriting recognition, even getting mocked in popular shows like The Simpsons. Yet this commercial failure has become a collector’s dream precisely because of its rarity and historical significance.
While the Newton never achieved the success Apple hoped for, it pioneered concepts that eventually appeared in the iPhone and iPad decades later. It was the first handheld device to use an ARM microchip, a very power efficient microprocessor which made it possible to pack impressive computing power into a small battery powered device. The research behind the Newton ultimately fed into the very successful Apple iPhone.
Working Newton MessagePads, especially the later 2000 and 2100 models, have become collectible items. Complete sets with original accessories, manuals, and packaging are particularly valuable. Though exact auction prices vary, well-preserved Newton units with documentation can fetch several hundred dollars, with especially rare configurations commanding more.
Apple Lisa (1983): The Computer Named After Jobs’ Daughter
The Apple Lisa represented a massive gamble that didn’t pay off commercially. Named after Steve Jobs’ daughter, this machine cost nearly $10,000 when it launched in 1983, making it unaffordable for most consumers. Functioning early Apple computers sold at auction for $50,300 in 2017 and $31,250 in 2018. The Lisa’s commercial failure actually enhances its collectibility today.
Because the Lisa didn’t sell well, Apple didn’t make very many of them, making it a very rare and collectable product. According to Live Auctioneers, in 2013, an Apple Lisa sold at auction for $36,356. Estimates suggest only 30 to 100 early Lisa-1 machines still exist today, making them genuine rarities in the vintage computer market.
The Lisa introduced the graphical user interface and mouse to personal computing, technologies we now take for granted. Despite its commercial disaster status, the machine’s historical importance as a stepping stone to the Macintosh gives it substantial value among collectors who appreciate computing history.
Apple-1 Computer (1976): The Beginning of Everything
This is the crown jewel of Apple collectibles. In 2024, Apple-1 owned by Apple’s first applications engineer, Dana Reddington, sold for over $315,000, and that’s actually on the lower end. The Data Domain Apple-1 is considered an “exceptional and historic” example of one of the machines, and RR Auction expects it to sell for over $500,000 in certain cases.
Hand-assembled by Steve Wozniak himself, roughly 200 Apple-1 computers were produced in 1976, with only about 175 actually sold. Finding one today is like discovering buried treasure. These weren’t even complete computers in the traditional sense – buyers had to supply their own keyboard, monitor, and case, assembling everything themselves.
Apple I’s have sold for hundreds of thousands before, but in 2014 this one sold for $905,000, setting records in the collectibles market. Working examples command premium prices, but even non-functional units hold substantial value due to their extreme rarity and historical significance as the foundation of what became a trillion-dollar company.
Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (1997): The Luxury Computer
Released to celebrate Apple’s 20th birthday in 1997, the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (TAM) was a limited-edition luxury computer that originally cost $7,500. The futuristic design included an LCD screen and Bose sound system, making it unlike anything else Apple had produced. Poor sales led to steep price cuts, with units eventually selling for around $2,000 before discontinuation.
Marking 20 years of the company being in business, the 20th Anniversary Macintosh (also called TAM) launched in March 1997 as a limited edition with a price tag of $9,000. That price was later cut to $1,999, and the computer was discontinued after a year on the market. Today, collectors actively seek these distinctive machines.
These Macs often go for about $1,000 in good condition, but the rare unopened computer sold for nearly $2,000. Complete sets with original packaging, accessories, and documentation command the highest prices. The TAM’s limited production run and distinctive multimedia-focused design make it a desirable piece for serious Apple collectors building comprehensive collections.
