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Phones today come in a variety of price points. On the upper end, there are instruments that push it closer to $2,000. It may sound daunting, but there are a lot more expensive phones.
What qualifies as “expensive”?
When it comes to “expensive” phones, there are really two types. there is Real Expensivelike the Galaxy S “ultra” serieswhich is certainly expensive, but it’s not absurd and you’re getting a great phone.
The second type is the status symbol. These phones are not practical for anyone to buy or use. They have ridiculous features and even more ridiculous prices. High-end brands love to slap their name on these phones.
note: For this list, I am combining these two categories of phones. It’s not just a ranking based on price.
related: Is it worth paying extra for the Galaxy S22 Ultra?
Samsung Galaxy Fold: $1,980
samsung
Let’s start at the “realistic” end of the spectrum. The original Samsung Galaxy Fold was released in 2019 with a starting price of $1,980. It was the first device with a foldable display to hit the mainstream market.
Bleeding edge technology often comes at a hefty price, and the Galaxy Fold was no exception. Despite the launch issues, it was a very exciting device and the price felt justified. You were getting a device that could function like a tablet or phone and still fit in your pocket.
The Fold series has continued to improve since then, and Samsung now has more affordable foldable options.
Sony Xperia Pro 5G: $2,500
Sony
I didn’t expect to find a Sony phone when researching for this list, but the Xperia Pro 5G blew me away. Sony launched this phone in early 2021 with a hefty price tag of $2,500.
Why is this phone so expensive? It looks like a fairly standard smartphone from the outside. Don’t be fooled, it’s packing a lot of serious hardwareand it’s much more than just big megapixel numbers.
The Xperia PRO 5G can function as a 4K camera monitor, a file transfer device, and a 5G modem. This is a phone targeted at people who do a lot of high-end video and photography work. It’s not for everyone, but it can be worth the price for the right people.
Vertu Signature Cobra: $360,000
Vertu
You can’t write a list of the most expensive phones or include the Vertu. This luxury brand has been pumping out peculiar devices for a long time. The Signature Cobra is one of the smartest and in 2017 it was priced at $360,000.
We are now in the category of impractical expensive phones. The Signature Cobra isn’t even a smartphone. This is a very basic feature phone which is embellished with gold plating and has a jeweled cobra that wraps around the phone. This is an example of something that is trying to look so expensive that it turns out to be cheap and difficult.
Goldwish Le Million: $1.3 million
goldwish
Speaking of tackle phones oh my. The Goldwish Le Million is one of the worst phones I’ve found in my research. It was unveiled in 2006 for an insane price of $1.3 million.
This was before the announcement of the original iPhone, so we can excuse Goldwish Le Million for not having a smartphone. That insane price tag comes from an 18-karat white gold body in the shape of an odd boomerang. It is also topped with a 120-carat diamond.
kicker? Of these, only three were ever built. At least you knew you had something unique.
Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond: $48.5 million
falcon
Through the years, many designers have released extravagantly ornate iPhones. The $48.5 million Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 popularly known as Pink Diamond is nothing.
Compared to other custom iPhones, it’s pretty easy. This is an iPhone 6 with a 24 karat gold exterior. There were also Rose Gold and Platinum versions. But does that frightening price tag bring? Big ‘ol diamond on the back.
Yes, it really is an iPhone with a big pink diamond on the back. Diamonds of this size are generally considered very valuable. Whoever bought this phone in 2004 wanted to show it.
Oh, and if $48.5 million is a bit too rich for you, there were more affordable versions for 42.5 million and $32.5 million, respectively.
