Summary
In the wake of theTikTokban in the United States, iPhones and Android phones with the app preinstalled are being listed on eBay for eye-popping prices of $25,000 or more. The surge in demand stems from the January 19 ban onTikTokand other ByteDance-owned apps, including CapCut, over national security concerns. The ban, upheld by the Supreme Court, follows a law passed by Congress last year targeting the China-based company.
As a result of the ban,TikTok is no longer available for downloadon Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store. For users who didn’t already have TikTok installed before the ban, there’s currently no legal way to add it to their devices. However, phones that already have the app installed remain functional for users in the U.S., creating a lucrative market for those willing to sell devices with TikTok preloaded.
Sellers on platforms like eBay have capitalized on the TikTok ban by listing iPhones and Android devices with the app preinstalled at sky-high prices, with some asking as much as $25,000. Among the listings, an iPhone 16 Pro Max is priced at $5,000, while an iPhone 16 Plus is listed for over $3,000. Though these prices may seem extreme, they highlight the desperation of users eager to stay connected to TikTok’s content and community.The TikTok ban has left many enthusiasts in a tough spot, since if they deleted the app during the ban, they can no longer reinstall it, making these preloaded devices their only option to regain access, even at an exorbitant cost.
Phones With TikTok Preinstalled Listed for $25,000 on eBay Amid U.S. Ban
An eBay user in Ruskin, Florida, has listed an iPhone 15 Pro Max “With TikTok” for $10,000 or best offer, attracting over 1,800 views in just 24 hours. Meanwhile, a seller in Raleigh, North Carolina, has taken it a step further, listing a 128GB iPhone 15 Pro with TikTok and CapCut, another app owned by ByteDance, for a staggering $4.5 million. While the listings have garnered attention, it remains unclear if any of these high-priced devices are actually selling. Among the more than 2,000 phones with TikTok listed on eBay, most do not have active bids. The few with offers tend to be older iPhone models, selling for more modest prices between $100 and $200.
Although President Donald Trump issued a75-day stay on the TikTok banshortly after its implementation, questions about the legality of the pause persist. Legal experts remain skeptical, and tech giants Apple and Google are closely watching the situation. “They’ll have something that’s actually more valuable because they have the ultimate partner, and the United States will make it very worthwhile for them in terms of the permits and everything else,” Trump saidper USA Today, after meeting with TikTok’s owners.
If the ban ultimately holds, the companies could face fines potentially reaching hundreds of billions of dollars for hosting TikTok and other ByteDance apps. For now, the social media platform’s future on U.S. app stores remains unclear, thoughMrBeast has announced he may buy TikTok. In the meantime, the secondary market for TikTok-enabled phones is booming, with enterprising sellers cashing in on the app’s enduring popularity, and desperate users willing to pay the price.
Android
Android is an open-source operating system developed by Google for mobile devices. It offers extensive customization, a wide range of hardware options, and a vast app ecosystem. It’s known for its flexibility, allowing users to tailor their experience through widgets and launchers, and supports devices from various manufacturers.
