Remember the iPhone 6 “prototype” that was listed on eBay and almost sold for $100,000 before getting mysteriously pulled? It was relisted last week and just sold for $11,100.
The seller got what he thought was a brand new iPhone 6 from Verizon only to find what appeared to be an unfinished prototype running internal software. After he told us that he was excited to hear from Apple regarding the prototype, the listing was suddenly taken down.
What looked like an incredibly rare prototype was actually just an unfinished iPhone, explains the seller, who’s first name is Alex. “I have been informed by Apple that this phone is not a prototype, but rather a device that went through the manufacturing process and was never completed. The phone does not have iOS8 running on it, has a red charging port and has no FCC writing on the rear of the device… It is running applications that do not come on the released device.”
So it’s not a legitimate prototype after all, but an iPhone 6 that didn’t make it through the final stages of testing at Foxconn. Somehow it still managed to get shipped alongside finished shipments, which is obviously a big blunder for Foxconn and Apple.
After posting his original eBay listing, Apple offered Alex the opportunity to exchange the phone for any iPhone 6 or 6 Plus model he wanted, but instead he choose to list it on eBay again. With a finishing bid of $11,100, it looks like he made the right choice.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
7 responses to “‘Prototype’ iPhone 6 that nearly won 100K finally sells on eBay”
My bid of $11,099 was pipped at the post. :(
how is it protected IP? if you willingly sell me a phone and you’ve not completed it, I’ve still legally bought and own that phone in the state it’s in.
what a load of S,H,I,T! SO the story goes…
So it’s not a legitimate prototype after
all, but an iPhone 6 that didn’t make it through the final stages of
testing at Foxconn. Somehow it still managed to get shipped alongside
finished shipments, which is obviously a big blunder for Foxconn and
Apple.
BECAUSE THE IPHONE 6 ARE MADE IN CHINA THAT IS WHY APPLE!!! HAS DONE THIS!!!!
Try saying something coherent and logical, dum dum.
For selling a phone he rightfully purchased from a licensed vendor? Nope!
This makes much more sense. I thought someone would have been lying in this. I couldn’t get my head around how a prototype could get packaged up and end up with a user..
The fact anyone actually believes Apple called this person and explained, in detail, how the phones go through assembly is funny. Apple talks to people, who aren’t inside the circle, like a parents talks to their kid. There’s no way in hell someone at Apple actually authorized, without a NDA in place with the original owner, to speak about such processes. I’m sure they asked for their phone back without a doubt, but explaining how a mistake like that happened to someone who isn’t an Apple employee…. Or, it was all a part of the plan and Apple’s just lying through their teeth because, “Yes, we made a mistake and are accidentally shipping prototypes in boxes to customers by mistake” doesn’t sound so good does it? Apple can say whatever they want, to cover their tracks, or whatever really, doesn’t mean it’s what happened nor does it mean it’s the truth. This coming from the same company who had the SFPD kick in the door of the person who “found” the iPhone 4 prototype and wouldn’t return it. Uh huh I’m sure they are willing to share trade secrets to someone who’s dying for media attention.