If you or your family have been buying Apple products for decades, you could get paid for it. Apple products aren’t known for being cheap, but they hold up their value well. And that’s even more true when it comes to vintage Apple products.
Some classic Apple devices can even sell for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here are seven old Apple products that could end up making you money. Maybe it’s not a bad time to clean out the attic.
Table of Contents
7. iMac G3: $300
The iMac has a long history, and that history began with the iMac G3. First released in 1998, the iMac quickly captured the hearts and minds of many people. At a time when the word “computer” immediately conjured up images of boring beige desktop towers, the iMac G3 had a unique, funky shape and came in 13 different colors.
Although the iMac G3 was a huge hit back then, technology is evolving fast and many people threw away their old iMacs. However, a new wave of nostalgia for classic Apple products is making these little computers soar in value. iMac G3s routinely cost $300 or more eBayand prices are only expected to go up.
6. Apple Macintosh: $500
The original Macintosh, released in 1984, was one of Apple’s most important products. Without the first Macintosh there would be no MacBook, no iMac and no macOS. Maybe there is no Apple at all.
When designing the Macintosh, Apple didn’t make the same mistakes it made with the Apple Lisa, which we’ll get to in a moment. Compared to the Lisa, the Macintosh was more compact, easier to use, and, perhaps most importantly, cheaper. This made the Macintosh a huge success, and that’s why modern Apple computers are still called “Macs.”
The legend of the original Macintosh lives on, and these vintage computers can cost a lot of money on the vintage and used markets. A working Apple Macintosh 128k in good condition will set you back $500 or more eBay.
5. iBook G3: $2,500
What the iMac did for computers, the iBook did for laptops. Released in 1999, the iBook G3 caused quite a stir in a way that few laptops could. Affectionately called the “clamshell,” it didn’t look like any other notebook then, nor does it now. With its bright plastic accents and rounded shape, it screams late ’90s or early 2000s. It’s so ugly it’s beautiful.
You can find tons of iBook G3s for resale eBay for a few hundred dollars, with models in less common colors costing more. But if you have an unopened model or one in the rare “POP ART II” colorway, you could end up parting with it for more than $2,500.
4. The Original iPod: $20,000
When the first generation iPod hit store shelves in 2001, it changed the way we listen to music and the way we look at technology as a whole. The iPod wasn’t just a music player, it was a cultural phenomenon. The iPod’s run lasted over two decades until Apple finally discontinued the iPod in 2022. While that meant there were no more new iPods, it did send vintage iPod prices skyrocketing.
If you have an original iPod in good condition, you can expect to part with it for more than $100. However, if you are a collector, factory sealed first generation iPods can end up being resold eBay for more than $20,000.
3. The original iPhone: $20,000
Released in 2007, the original iPhone changed the world when it combined a music player, web browser, and phone into one simple and easy-to-use package. Although you could get one for as little as $499 with a two-year contract when you launched, these days you have to expect to pay a lot more if you want a new brand new iPhone 2G.
You can find a brand new, unopened original iPhone that is being resold eBay for over $20,000. But if you’re dying to get your hands on an original iPhone and don’t have $20,000 to spare, don’t worry. You can easily find working used models under $100. They may not be in perfect condition, but it’s your chance to own a piece of history.
2. Apple Lisa: $36,000
You might be surprised to learn that not all of Apple’s products have been huge successes. The Apple Lisa is a prime example of this. The Lisa debuted in 1983 and quickly made a name for itself as a major commercial failure for Apple.
At a time when you needed to know basic coding to operate a computer, the Apple Lisa was one of the very first personal computers to ship with a mouse and graphical user interface. That was a big accomplishment for 1983. That being said, the Lisa, with its whopping $9,995 price tag, was well out of most people’s price range. It was just way too expensive.
Even if the Apple Lisa’s sales plummeted and burned, that only adds to its appeal for many people. Because the Lisa didn’t sell well, Apple didn’t make very many of them, making them a very rare and collectible item. Corresponding Live Auctioneersin 2013, an Apple Lisa was auctioned for $36,356.
1. Apple 1: $900,000
When it comes to classic Apple products, the Apple 1 is the crème de la crème. The Apple 1 is more than just a piece of retro technology. It’s a piece of history. The first batch of Apple 1 computers were actually assembled by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak himself. The Apple 1 was never cheap, it originally went on sale in 1976 for $666.66. That would be about $3,200 today. That being said, the prices for them can go absolutely insane now.
In 2014, one of the very first Apple 1 devices was sold by an auction house Bonhams for a whopping $905,000. Only around 200 Apple 1 units were ever built, but if you’re lucky enough to have one lying around, it could mean the payday of your life.
Could your iPhone be a future classic?
While some vintage Apple products can sell for a great deal of money, remember that the value of everything depends on condition, rarity, and demand. The most valuable collectibles—Apple products or not—are almost always those that are unused and unopened. If, like most people, you bought your Apple products to use and not as an investment for the nostalgia of future generations, don’t expect to get rich off it.
Even if you don’t own some of Apple’s decades-old, ultra-rare products that can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, your current iPhone or MacBook could be worth something in the future. Remember, one person’s junk is another’s treasure.
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