It has become a ritual among tech enthusiasts for buyers to line up for hours, even days, to get their hands on the latest gadgets. At the other end of the spectrum are those who crave retro technology. Retro devices appeal to collectors not only for their bragging rights, but also for their sense of nostalgia.
Another reason retro technology is in high demand is its potential resale value. Once you know the value of these gadgets, you’ll probably check your attic or basement for long-forgotten treasures.
1. Commodore 64
For baby boomers and Gen Xers, the name Commodore 64 should evoke memories of 1982, when home computing systems hit the market. Despite the popularity of the device at the time, the company went out of business in his 1990s. In mint condition, a Commodore 64 is currently worth more than $1,200.
2. Apple Newton PDA
If you’ve never heard of the Apple Newton PDA, don’t worry. Apple he attempted to develop and market a personal digital assistant (PDA) in 1993. The device is a rare failure for the tech giant, but despite its failure to catch on, it’s still valuable to some users. At a 2022 auction, a buyer sold a functioning version of the Apple Newton for more than $800.
3. Super Mario 64 Game Cartridge
Fans of Nintendo’s gaming systems know better than anyone that Mario games are readily available at a variety of price points. But in the summer of 2021, a bidder sold a rare, factory-sealed Super Mario 64 game cartridge for the Nintendo 64 system at auction for $1.56 million. This sale makes it the most expensive video game ever. There’s a lucrative market for unopened classic games.
4. VHS tape
If you or your family have owned a VCR since the 1980s, you probably still have some VHS tapes around the house. If you do, check the tape before throwing it in the trash. Some titles, such as Disney movies, are very popular with nostalgia seekers. At a 2022 auction, a buyer sold a copy of the 1985 movie “Back to the Future” for $75,000.
5. TRS-80 Laptop
One of the earliest portable computers was the TRS-80 laptop, which sold at auction for $25,000. This particular technology was special because Microsoft founder Bill Gates personally used it to write code. This TRS-80 of his is not just a collector’s item. It’s also part of history.
6. Vintage Leica camera
In the United States, Kodak, Polaroid, Canon, and Nikon are well known for their cameras and photographic equipment. Germany’s Leica may not be a household name, but it’s part of history as one of the first companies to mass-produce 35mm cameras. Old Leica cameras are so hard to come by that they were purchased at auction in 2022 for $15 million.
7. Nintendo PlayStation Prototype
Like originally packaged video games, new factory video game systems are sold at a premium, especially if they are limited releases. Before becoming Sony PlayStation, the manufacturer of Nintendo PlayStation only produced 200 prototypes for sale. Fan bought the unopened system at auction in 2020 for $360,000. Limited release games and gaming systems can be worth a lot of money if they’re unused.
8. Toshiba laptop
Anyone who has purchased a laptop in the last few decades knows that Toshiba branded computers are readily available online and at major retailers. But in one auction in 2014, a Toshiba laptop sold to him for nearly $62,000. Why is the price so high? In 1998, then-President Bill Clinton used the device to send an email to astronaut John Glenn aboard the Discovery space shuttle, making him the first president to send an email into space. .
9. iPod Special Edition
The Apple iPod revolutionized the way users listened to music on the go, but it eventually became obsolete with the advent of smartphones like the iPhone. Still, there’s no denying the impact it had on the music industry. Everyone had an iPod and wanted it to match their style.
Collectors interested in classic iPods can find them online from private sellers and third-party vendors for anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars. The real money is on limited edition iPods like the X-Files iPod Nano and U2 edition, for which someone paid almost $90,000.
10. Apple I
Steve Wozniak designed the first Apple I computer in 1975 and sold it the following year for $666.66. The device is considered a collector’s item despite its outdated computing technology. In 2014, a buyer bought his Apple I at auction for his $905,000. And you thought his Mac computers were expensive today. It’s a bargain compared to the Apple I’s current price.
11.iPhone I
Always innovative, Apple shocked the mobile phone market in 2007 with the release of the iPhone I. The first generation iPhone sold millions of units despite its $599 price tag. Apple didn’t keep his 4GB phones on the market for long, making devices in unopened factory packaging extremely rare and valuable. In 2023, a brand new, original iPhone sold at auction for more than $190,000. Even used models can sell for more than $1,000.
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