Retro tech boom: The gadgets that are now worth thousands

Research reveals the retro gadgets that could earn you a small fortune. Motorola Microtac 9800X is the most profitable mobile phone with a resale price of £699. The Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (1979) is the most profitable retro gadget with a value of £728.76. Nintendo 64 could sell for £170 and grossed over £2 million last year

Consumers often look forward to getting their hands on the latest devices, contributing to over 6 million tonnes of e-waste produced in the UK and an estimate 25 million mobile phones discarded each year.

Whilst technology seems to be changing and advancing quicker than ever, sales trends reveal that retro devices are once again in demand.

Phone and gadget insurance company Protect Your Bubble conducted a study to reveal which retro gadgets could fill your pocket with a generous sum. Data analysts investigated game consoles, retro phones, beloved portable music players and a range of other devices to determine which are the most valuable.

Most valuable retro mobile phones

The Motorola Microtac 9800X (1989) is deemed the most profitable mobile phone. It took the market by storm when if first released due to it being the lightest and smallest handset of the time. It once retailed for an astonishing £1765, is now most profitable, and research figures reveal that it could bring in an impressive £699 to those looking to de-clutter their drawers. The value of this handheld mobile has significantly grown since 2022 by an impressive 90 per cent (£438.79)

In second place, is the Samsung I607 Blackjack with an average resale price of £299. Released in 2006, the BlackBerry-style mobile was a moderate hit due to its light and thin design. The value of this device however grew significantly since 2022, from just £7.38 (+£292.23).

In third position is the Motorola Dynatax 8000X, which was the world’s first portable mobile phone. Most in demand in 2022 with a resale price of £1776,01, the value of the device has dropped significantly by 83 per cent to £295.51.

Completing the top five most profitable retro phones are the original iPhone (£258.17) and the iPhone 3G which was the highest-grossing retro phone in 2024, With 12,266 models sold, sellers cashed in an impressive £2,289,203 combined.

Despite not featuring in the top 10 most profitable, The Nokia 3310 was the second most sold device in 2024 with 755 units at a very affordable cost of £27.53. Although the low sale price, the total gross counted to an impressive £20,785.15.

The Nokia 6310I was the third in demand device with 681 units sold, the Blackberry Bold fourth (379) and the HTC Touch rounding up the top five with 273 units.

Most valuable retro gadgets

Further analysis of the study revealed the Sony Walkman TPS-L2 (1979) is the most profitable retro gadget on eBay, re-selling for a surprising £728.76. The original Sony Walkman was revolutionary at its time of release due to its ability provide portable music and play cassette tapes on the go. The Walkman became an instant cultural icon, with its blue-and-silver design, and in 2024, re-sellers have earnt a total gross of £5830,08.

In second place is the TurboExpress handheld console with a resale price of £447.46. The TurboExpress was technologically advanced for its time, allowing gamers to play full-sized  console games on a compact screen.

The Sony MiniDisc MZ-RH1(2006) is the third most profitable retro gadget with an average price of £329.31. The MZ-RH1 was one of the last and most advanced MiniDisc players, making it a prized possession for music enthusiasts.

Interestingly, despite the release of the Xbox Series X in October 2024, the original Xbox has still gained an incredible amount of traction and is the top-grossing retro gadget as of 2024 with sellers cashing in an impressive £4,203,809.

Another gadget many may have lying around high in demand is the Nintendo 64. Throughout 2024, it has earned a total of £2,024,937 taking second place. In third place is the 35mm Film Camera making a total of £1,145,108. The Nintendo DS with a total of £734,297 comes fourth, and the PSP rounding up the top five with £443,843.

With nostalgia-driven purchases on the rise, retro gadgets are proving to be valuable assets in the resale market. Many buyers are either reliving their childhoods or discovering these devices for the first time.

James Brown, Director at Protect Your Bubble, commented:

“After over 40 years of iconic mobile phones and gadgets, it’s interesting to see which old devices Brits are willing to pay good money for. People love revisiting technology that shaped their childhoods, and for many, these retro gadgets are a bridge to the past, so if you have any old gadgets lying about, now could be the time to get selling. But remember, the better condition, the more profitable it will be. Take good care of it with a protective case or cover, clean it regularly and keep software up to date.”

To view the full ranking, click here. View our 2022 research.

Feature Image by fernando zhiminaicela from Pixabay