Buying an iPhone always leaves a large hole in the buyer's pocket, as these phones undoubtedly belong to the premium smartphone category.
However, one case goes far beyond the ordinary, as online sales site eBay is offering for sale a six-year-old broken iPhone 4s, said to be one of the super limited models designed for Steve Jobs, for a whopping $149,999.
While the glass on both the front and back of the device is completely shattered, the smartphone is still functional despite being used quite a bit. If you look at the back of the smartphone, the design pays homage to Steve Jobs, using a different logo, which says “Steve Jobs 1955 – 2011.” The seller claims that the device is “1 of only 56 phones made to honor the late Steve Jobs.”
The seller adds: “This item is being sold as is, for parts and repair only. It is still fully functional and can be used. This phone is 1 of only 56 phones made to honor the late Steve Jobs. Please look for the Apple logo to verify authenticity. Please do your research before purchasing. There are no cables or other accessories included with this item. There are cracks on the front and back of the phone. Please see pictures.”
The limited edition was originally designed by a Hong Kong design student, Jonathan Mak, shortly after Steve Jobs' death, as a tribute to Jobs. The phones became a hit, given that they were released shortly after Jobs' death.
The design went viral in no time, with companies producing unauthorized accessories, including phone cases, memorabilia, and posters featuring a similar design. However, a company called Goldgenie, which actually released the iPhone 4s commemorating Steve Jobs, had only made 56 of the devices.
A closer look at the Goldgenie prototypes reveals that they had a gold glass back panel, unlike the clear one sold on eBay. Therefore, the authenticity of the device is questionable. The broken iPhone 4s bears the date 1955-2011 on its back plus a dominant “Steve Jobs” and of course the familiar revised logo. Unfortunately, experts have claimed that this is a “very accurate imitation.” Therefore, there is a high probability that the cracked iPhone is one of the fake pieces sold on the black market.
Apparently Goldgenie had given the limited edition Steve Jobs to Apple itself in 2012. In addition to gold, Goldgenie also created iPhones encrusted with platinum and diamonds.
