HIDDEN away at the back of a cupboard collecting dust or stashed in the loft could be some tech treasures.
We’ve all got gadgets that went out of fashion and were relegated for a new and more superior version.
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But something stopped us from parting with them, instead putting them away somewhere safe.
While technology continues to evolve retro phones, portable music players and games consoles are in hot demand.
So much so, they’re in demand and they’re being sold for eye-watering sums on eBay.
And you could be cashing in.
MOBILE PHONES
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Once the phone to have a Motorola Microtac 9800X is selling for £669.
Launched in 1989 it once retailed for £1765 because it was the lightest and smallest handset of the time.
Coming in second place is the Samsung I607 Blackjack with a price tag of £299.
This model was released in 2006 and was a Blackberry-style mobile phone.
The Motorola Dynatac 8000X is taking third position with a price tag of £295.
This handset peaked in 2022 with a resale price of £1776 but the value has dropped significantly since.
iPhones get a mention with the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G making the most money.
The original is commanding a price of £258 and the 3G £186.
12,266 models were sold in 2024 with sellers cashing in on £2,289,203 in total.
James Brown, from mobile phone insurer, Protect Your Bubble, said: “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.”
RETRO GADGETS
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The most profitable gadget is the Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (1979) which is re-selling at very surprising price of £728.
With it’s blue and silver design the Walkman became an instant hit as it revolutionised being able to listen to music whilst on the move.
The TurboExpress allowed gamers to play full-sized console games on a compact screen.
And commands a price tag of £447 for retro gaming enthusiasts.
In third place is the Sony MiniDisc MZ-RH1 with an average price of £329.
Launched in 2006 this was the most advanced is portable music players.
While the Atari Jaguar games console, which was released in 1993 is averaging £251.
At the time it cost £249 so it’s held it’s price 19 years later.
Full list of most valuable retro gadgets
HERE is the full list of retro gadgets worth over £700.
- Motorola MicroTAC 9800X – £669.14
- Samsung I607 Blackjack – £299.61
- Motorola Dynatac 8000X – £295.51
- iPhone – £258.17
- iPhone 3G – £186.63
- Nokia E90 – £133.00
- Nokia 9000 – £113.00
- HTC Universal – £108.41
- Nokia N-Gage – £99.00
- Motorola International 3200 – £97.94
- Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (1979) – £728.76
- TurboExpress – £447.46
- Sony MiniDisc Mz-Rh1 (2006) – £329.31
- Sony Discman D-50 (1984) – £269.71
- Atari Jaguar – £251.06
- Sony MiniDisc MZ-R50 (1997) – £209.86
- LaserDisc Player – £197.83
- IBM PC Jr. – £196.24
- Panasonic 3DO – £195.40
- Nintendo 64 – £173.19
SELLING YOUR OLD ITEMS
It’s important to look at the condition of your item as this will impact the resale value.
Giving it a good clean and ensuring it still works will help make it more attractive to potential buyers.
Use relevant keywords in your description to help people find your item easily.
And be open to offers, let’s face it, you’d completely forgotten about your items until now.
It’s important to remember that an item is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it.
How to spot valuable items
COMMENTS by Consumer Editor, Alice Grahns:
It’s easy to check if items in your attic are valuable.
As a first step, go on eBay to check what other similar pieces, if not the same, have sold for recently.
Simply search for your item, filter by “sold listings” and toggle by the highest value.
This will give you an idea of how much others are willing to pay for it.
The method can be used for everything ranging from rare coins and notes to stamps, old toys, books and vinyl records – just to mention a few examples.
For coins, online tools from change experts like Coin Hunter are also helpful to see how much it could be worth.
Plus, you can refer to Change Checker’s latest scarcity index update to see which coins are topping the charts.
For especially valuable items, you may want to enlist the help of experts or auction houses.
Do your research first though and be aware of any fees for evaluating your stuff.
As a rule of thumb, rarity and condition are key factors in determining the value of any item.
You’re never guaranteed to make a mint, however.
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