The retro gadgets that could earn you a small fortune

Data analysts at Protect Your Bubble investigated game consoles, retro phones, portable music players and a range of other devices to determine which are the most valuable.

The most valuable retro mobiles

Protect Your Bubble found the Motorola Microtac 9800X (1989) to be the most profitable mobile phone. It took the market by storm when it was first released due to it being the lightest and smallest handset at the time. Researchers found it could sell for £699 in 2025, up from £439 in 2022.

The Samsung I607 Blackjack is in second place, 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.

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 £1,776, the value of the device has dropped significantly to be worth just £296 now.

Completing the top five most profitable retro phones are the original iPhone (£258) and the iPhone 3G (£187), which was the highest grossing retro phone in 2024.

The retro gadgets worth the most

Researchers found the Sony Walkman TPS-L2 is the most profitable retro gadget on eBay, reselling for £729 on average. The original Sony Walkman was revolutionary at its time of release (1979) due to its ability to provide portable music and play cassette tapes on the go.

In second place is the TurboExpress handheld console with a resale price of £447. 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. The MZ-RH1 was one of the last and most advanced MiniDisc players, making it a prized possession for music enthusiasts.

Other retro gadgets in the top 10 include the Sony Discman (£270), Atari Jaguar (£251), and Nintendo 64 (£173).

James Brown, director at Protect Your Bubble, said: “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 [the] 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.”

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