October 2009 iPhone 4 Prototype Shows Up on eBay [Update: Listing Pulled]

As noted by 9to5Mac, an early iPhone 4 prototype has shown up on eBay running Apple's in-house diagnostics software.

iphone 4 prototype 2009
A number of high-quality photos are included with the listing, showing a complete lack of Apple branding on the exterior of the device. Most notably, the Apple logo has been replaced with a distinct logo that was previously seen in a Twitpic posting in February 2010. The standard "iPhone" text on the rear of the device has also been replaced by "Prototype", along with text noting that the device has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission and can not be sold until such authorization is granted.

iphone 4 prototype 2009 bottom
Sonny Dickson has also provided an overview video of the device showing off several of the features of the device including the software and a lack of screws on the bottom of the device that is consistent with some of the earlier leaked prototypes.


As seen in the video, the serial number of the device indicates that it was manufactured during the 43rd week of 2009, which corresponds to late October, nearly eight months before the device was made available to the public.

The auction for the prototype currently carries a single bid of $4,500, with the seller advertising in the listing that a $10,000 offer would be acceptable to halt the auction process and simply purchase the device.

Update: The listing has been removed.

Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

HarryKeogh Avatar
173 months ago
Samsung has an eBay account?
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
devilbond Avatar
173 months ago
Steve allowed this.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacFather Avatar
173 months ago
Where do people find these things?
Deleted.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AQUADock Avatar
173 months ago
Don't understand the need for the lack of apple branding?

Maybe to hide that it's an apple product.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FSMBP Avatar
173 months ago
Looks a lot more like the cheap Chinese knockoffs that can be had online for around 100. Why would a prototype not run the standard iOS and instead a crappy knockoff OS? Someone is about to be taken for their money.
I don't think you understand Apple's prototype process. That UI is the development UI for hardware testing purposes...It's been well documented that early iPhone prototypes use that same basic development UI early on in the process.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
troop231 Avatar
173 months ago
Pokémon logo - almost :p
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)