Gadgets from decades ago are in demand from collectors and nostalgia hunters, with some phones or game consoles from the 80s and 90s now worth a small fortune
If you’re one of those people who never throw anything away, even decades after you last used a phone or computer console, you might just be sitting on a goldmine. With the rise of nostalgia and a booming market for vintage tech, it’s not just old toys or clothes that are gaining value.
Classic gadgets like vintage phones, cassette players, and gaming consoles are now fetching huge prices. So, before you throw out that box of old gadgets gathering dust in the attic, it’s worth taking a second look. Here are some of the items that could make you a tidy sum…
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Phones
One of the earliest mobile phones, the brick-style Motorola Microtac 9800X is now a collector’s item and could make you £669. Launched in 1989 it once retailed for £1765 because it was the lightest and smallest handset of the time.
The Samsung I607 Blackjack is also in high demand, with a price tag of £299. The Motorola Dynatac 8000X once sold to avid collectors for £1776, but now can bank you around £300.
Finally, if you’ve kept the very first iPhone, you could sell it for as much as £258. James Brown, from mobile phone insurer, Protect Your Bubble, says: “After 40 years of iconic mobile phones and gadgets, it’s interesting to see which old devices Brits are willing to pay good money for. If you have any old gadgets lying about, now could be the time to get selling.”
Consoles
The first generation of computers and gaming consoles are still in high demand by nostalgic collectors. If you’ve kept your old TurboExpress, an 8-bit handheld game console by NEC Home Electronics, released in late 1990, you could sell it to retro gaming enthusiast for as much as £447.
James Brown says: “You can’t really get more retro than this. It competed with the Game Boy and looks like it’s finally beaten its rival, at least in one regard (and it only took 30 years!).”
The IBM PCjr, a home computer sold by IBM from March 1984 to May 1985 made especially for playing video games, will make you £196. And two iconic gaming devices of the 1990s, the Atari Jaguar and Nintendo 64, could fetch as much as £251 and £173 respectively.
Music players
The original Sony Walkman TPS-L2, released in 1979, now has collectors scrambling to get their hands on one. If you’ve kept yours in good condition, you could earn an average of £728.76.
Another Sony classic, the Sony MiniDisc MZ-RH1, was one of the most advanced portable players when it was launched in 2006, and now has an average price of £329. And the Sony Discman D-50, the first portable CD player launched in 1984, can fetch as much as £270.
Tips for cashing in on your iconic gadgets
Check the condition – The condition of your item significantly impacts its value. A working, well-maintained piece will fetch a higher price than a damaged or non-functional one.
Packaging – If you have the original boxes, manuals, or accessories, include them as they can significantly increase the value.
Prepare your tech – Give your retro tech a good cleaning to remove dust, dirt, and any grime.
Choose the right platform – selling on platforms popular with collectors, such as eBay, Gumtree, or specialised websites like musicMagpie.
Description – Write detailed and accurate descriptions, including the model number, condition, and any known issue, and use the relevant keywords that potential buyers might search for.
Photos – Show the item from multiple angles, highlighting its features and condition.
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