Obsolete Gadgets That May Have High Resale Value
In one dusty storage bin I found: an iPod Classic, a Nokia brick phone, a yellowed Game Boy Color, and a random remote I still can't identify. My first instinct was to toss everything… but I decided to look up a few items first.
That quick search turned into a rabbit hole, and I realized some of this “junk” was worth way more than I ever paid for it.
What felt obsolete to me was collector gold to someone else.
This article is the guide I wish I had before I almost donated my old gadgets for free.
Why Old Tech Can Be Weirdly Valuable
In my experience, three things drive high resale value on obsolete gadgets:
- Scarcity – Products that were discontinued fast, made in low quantities, or had quirky variations.
- Nostalgia – People want to buy back a piece of their childhood or teen years.
- Functionality or mod potential – Items that can still be used or hacked (audiophiles mod old iPods, gamers mod old consoles, etc.).
Collectors' markets aren’t random chaos either. A 2018 report from eBay’s data team showed a steady annual increase in sales for “vintage electronics” and “retro gaming,” especially among buyers aged 25–44 who grew up with this tech.
Let’s go through specific categories I've tested, researched, and in some cases, sold myself.
1. Classic iPods (Especially iPod Classic & iPod Mini)
When I tested the resale value of my old iPod Classic (160GB, still boots up if you bribe it with a charger), I almost fell off my chair.
Certain models regularly sell for several hundred dollars, and rare sealed or U2 editions can push into the thousands on eBay.
Why collectors love them
- High-capacity HDD – The 5th and 7th gen iPod Classics are beloved by audiophiles. People replace the internal HDD with SSDs or flash storage and load them with lossless audio.
- Click wheel nostalgia – The tactile control is oddly satisfying. Swipe gestures just don’t hit the same.
- Discontinued – Apple officially killed the iPod Classic in 2014, instantly creating a finite supply.
What has the highest value
From what I’ve tracked across auctions:
- 5th gen "Video" iPods
- 7th gen 160GB iPod Classic
- iPod Mini (for modding into flash-based audio players)
Condition is everything. Original box, cables, and even old Apple stickers add resale value.
Pro tip: Don’t "fix" cosmetic wear with aggressive cleaning. Collectors sometimes prefer original patina over obvious touch-ups.2. Retro Game Consoles & Handhelds
My most surprising flip was a Game Boy Color I hadn’t touched since middle school. The screen was scratched, but it still turned on. I cleaned the contacts, listed it, and it sold in 48 hours.
Consoles and handhelds that can be worth serious money
From my tracking of sold listings and retro forums, the usual suspects include:
- Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance SP
- Super Nintendo (SNES) and Nintendo 64
- Sega Genesis / Mega Drive and Dreamcast
- Sony PlayStation 1 & 2, especially limited editions
Boxes, manuals, and original controllers can easily double your final price. I’ve seen boxed SNES systems go 2–3x higher than console-only listings.
Why they hold value
- Nostalgia + stream culture – Retro gaming content on Twitch and YouTube keeps old consoles relevant.
- Physical media – Some games were never re-released digitally due to licensing issues.
- Repairability – Compared to modern sealed hardware, a lot of 90s consoles are relatively easy to fix.
There are downsides though. Counterfeit cartridges and reproduction boxes are everywhere. When I sold a copy of Pokémon Crystal, I had to photograph the PCB board to prove it was authentic. Collectors are cautious—and honestly, they should be.
3. Early Apple Devices (iPhone, Macintosh, and Oddballs)
I’m not an Apple fanboy, but the brand’s ecosystem has created one of the strongest collector markets in consumer tech.
iPhones that can sell high
Not every old iPhone is a goldmine. But sealed or rare variants can be.
- Original iPhone (2007) – Factory sealed units have sold for over $60,000 at auction, as reported by the BBC in 2023.
- Special colorways like Product (RED) or carrier-exclusive models can sell above their original price if they’re in near-mint shape.
Loose, heavily used iPhones usually won’t make you rich. They’re more recycling or parts candidates.
Macintosh and oddball Apple gear
I once met a collector who paid more for an old Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 than I paid for my current tablet. Early Apple experiments—like the Newton or rare Macintosh models—have a cult following.
Key value drivers:
- Original box, manuals, and Apple-branded accessories
- Limited production runs
- Historical significance (first-gen of a product line)
Just be realistic: shipping old Macs can be a nightmare. CRT iMacs are heavy, fragile, and expensive to pack safely.
4. Film Cameras & Early Digital Cameras
I sold a 35mm point-and-shoot to a college photography student who told me, “Digital looks too clean.” That’s when it hit me—film is back.
Film cameras that often resell well
- Point-and-shoots from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Yashica, Contax
- SLRs like Canon AE-1, Nikon FM/FE series
- Certain compact cameras with fast lenses (e.g., 35mm f/2.8)
The analog resurgence isn’t just anecdotal. Kodak Alaris has publicly noted increased demand for 35mm film, and multiple film stocks have been reintroduced due to consumer interest.
Early digital cameras: sleeper category
Some early digital cameras have a weirdly pleasing "low-res" aesthetic. I’ve seen:
- Early 2000s Canon PowerShot models
- First-gen DSLRs from Canon and Nikon
sell for more than I expected—mostly to creators chasing that crunchy, nostalgic look for social media content.
The catch: dead pixels, leaking batteries, and proprietary chargers. When I tested an old Canon compact, the hardest part was just finding a compatible cable.
5. Vintage Audio: Walkmans, Discmen, and Hi-Fi Gear
One of my biggest regrets: I let my original Sony Walkman go for a few dollars at a yard sale years ago. When I revisited the market recently, I realized I basically gave away a potential collector item.
Cassette players & Walkmans
High-end and metal-bodied Sony Walkman models, especially from the 80s and 90s, can resell for hundreds of dollars if working.
Collectors and audio nerds love:
- WM-DD series and other high-fidelity portable cassette players
- Models with Dolby NR, metal tape support, and solid mechanical transport
Hi-Fi components
If you’ve got:
- Old Marantz, Pioneer, NAD, or Yamaha receivers
- Turntables with original tonearms
- Quality bookshelf speakers
…don’t assume they’re worthless. Many older amps and receivers are overbuilt tanks that still sound fantastic. I helped a friend list a 1980s Pioneer receiver; it sold within a week to someone restoring a full vintage setup.
The downside: shipping is a risk. Heavy audio gear is expensive to send and easy to damage, so local sale platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist can be smarter.
6. Obsolete Phones That Aren’t So Obsolete
Not every old phone is collectible, but a few categories stand out.
Nokia, Motorola & the “brick phone” era
I recently checked prices on the Nokia 3310 (the iconic brick), and while they’re not retirement-level valuable, boxed or rare variants can fetch surprisingly strong prices.
Other potentially valuable models:
- Motorola Razr V3 (especially in limited colors)
- Early BlackBerry devices with full QWERTY keyboards
Some buyers are collectors; others actually use them as distraction-free "dumb phones." There’s also a privacy niche that prefers basic devices over smartphones.
Limitations: networks are shutting down old 2G and 3G bands in many countries. A phone that can’t connect to modern networks is more of a display piece than a daily driver.
7. How to Check If Your Gadget Is Worth Selling
When I started going through my stash, I built a quick checklist for myself:
- Search sold listings, not just asking prices – On eBay, filter by “Sold items” to see what people actually paid.
- Check model and revision numbers – Tiny details matter. A specific motherboard revision or storage size can change value.
- Test the basics – Power on, buttons, ports, display, sound. Be brutally honest in your description.
- Inspect for battery damage – Corroded or swollen batteries can tank value or make shipping risky.
- Look for original packaging – Boxes, manuals, inserts, even warranty cards all add perceived value.
If a device doesn’t show any resale value, it’s still worth recycling properly. Many governments maintain official e-waste drop-off lists, and some retailers offer trade-in credits.
The Catch: It’s Not All Gold in Your Junk Drawer
I’d love to say every old gadget is a hidden treasure, but that’s just not how the market works.
Pros:- You might unlock real money from stuff you’d planned to toss.
- Collectors often genuinely appreciate what you’re selling.
- It’s a sustainable way to keep electronics in use.
- Research and listing take time.
- Fees and shipping costs eat into profits.
- Values fluctuate—what’s hot this year might cool off next year.
In my experience, the best mindset is: you’re optimizing value on things you no longer use, not starting a full-time flipping empire overnight.
That said, once you successfully sell your first “obsolete” gadget for more than you expected, you’ll probably do what I did—look at every drawer, every box, every cable bin, and think, “Okay… what else is hiding in here?”
Sources
- BBC News – Original iPhone sold at auction for $63,356 – Example of high resale value for sealed first-gen Apple devices.
- eBay – 2022 Recommerce Report – Data on second-hand and vintage electronics markets.
- Kodak Alaris – Film Photography Revival – Notes on increased demand for film and analog cameras.
- U.S. EPA – Electronics Donation and Recycling – Guidance on safe and responsible e-waste handling.
- Apple – Discontinued iPod Products – Official reference for discontinued iPod models.
