Hundreds of Unique iPods From Karl Lagerfeld's Collection Now on Auction - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Hundreds of Unique iPods From Karl Lagerfeld's Collection Now on Auction

Hundreds of unique Apple iPods that belonged to the late designer Karl Lagerfeld are being auctioned by Sotheby's (via MacStories).

ipod karl lagerfeld
Lagerfeld was a renowned German fashion designer who passed away in 2019. The auction features a range of custom iPods, including uniquely decorated models and rare first-generation devices. Each iPod is meticulously loaded with curated music.

According to graphic novelist Warren Ellis, "Lagerfeld famously had an 'iPod nanny' to digitize his collection for the iPods and to add new music to new devices. This is how he ended up with over 300 of them – he treated them like cassette tapes."

ipod karl lagerfeld 2
Lagerfeld's collection also included other Apple devices, such as iPads, which he reportedly used as digital sketchbooks and diaries. Despite owning several iPhones, Lagerfeld avoided using email and instead maintained a preference for handwritten correspondence.

The auction is part of a broader sale of Lagerfeld's estate featuring over 200 lots, providing a comprehensive look into his personal and professional life. It closes on January 31.

Related Forum: iPod touch and iPod

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
iPad mini OLED feature 1

Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:47 pm PDT by
While the new iPad mini has an OLED display, the device does not support ProMotion, meaning the display's refresh rate is limited to 60Hz instead of 120Hz. ProMotion support would have allowed for the iPad mini's refresh rate to automatically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed, but evidently Apple has kept the feature exclusive to the iPad Pro among iPad...
Pinched iPad Mini

Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:52 am PDT by
In the U.S. and most other countries, Apple's website shows the new iPad mini being held by pinched fingers, but this is not the case in South Korea. The new iPad mini shown with pinched fingers on Apple's website in the U.S. On its South Korean website, Apple simply shows an image of the iPad mini on its own. The new iPad mini shown without pinched fingers on Apple's website in South Korea ...

Top Rated Comments

Spock Avatar
23 months ago

I'd like to see an iPod Anniversary Edition release, ideally built from "off the shelf" m.2 where one can easily get 4TB of m.2 right now for < $200. So put classic Apple markup on it and a 4TB iPod "Special Edition" could sell for around the original- $449-$499.

And I'd be first in line to buy it... ideally with the original pure iPod type OS instead of iPod Touch... but I'd roll with the latter if that's how it had to be.

I suspect nostalgia alone could move a crowd to buy one too. Segments of people are buying modern repackaging of far more ancient tech such as game consoles from the 1970s-1990s.

Why make one of these? Why not just use virtual iPod on iPhone? iPod doesn't have the expensive "tail" of ongoing cell service. $499 is a LOT less than $799+. 4000GB is a LOT, LOT more storage than 128GB. Etc.

Just my opinion... but I'm still rocking a 5th GEN iPod Classic for a very useful/specific use. It seems doomed to conk sooner than later and I'd like a replacement that is NOT a phone or tablet.
I always thought it would be cool to make at least make one more generation of the iPod Classic with support for syncing Apple Music playlists and full switching AirPods support. Ultra thin like the nano, higher end DAC so it sounds good and a headphone jack.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
23 months ago

The collection would be better suited for a museum so it could be viewed as a whole. Apple should purchase the entire collection.
Apple does not care about these iPods. And all I see is some rich person that used expensive devices as disposable items because he could. They are overpriced and I am guessing that most of them don't work.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
23 months ago
I'd like to see an iPod Anniversary Edition release, ideally built from "off the shelf" m.2 where one can easily get 4TB of m.2 right now for < $200 (at retail, buying just a single unit). So put classic Apple markup on it and a 4TB iPod "Special Edition" could sell for around the original- $449-$499.

And I'd be first in line to buy it... ideally with the original pure iPod type OS instead of iPod Touch... but I'd roll with the latter if that's how it had to be.

I suspect nostalgia alone could move a crowd to buy one too. Segments of people are buying modern repackaging of far more ancient tech such as game consoles from the 1970s-1990s.

Why make one of these? Why not just use virtual iPod on iPhone? iPod doesn't have the expensive "tail" of ongoing cell service. $499 is a LOT less than $799+. 4000GB is a LOT, LOT more storage than 128GB. Etc.

Now if Apple jumped on the idea but decided to use it's "magical", proprietary storage where the 4TB upgrade is $1200 by itself, this iPod would be priced far too high and loses any appeal whatsoever to me. But use "off the shelf" storage as they did with actual iPods back in the day and they can get their fat margin while keeping the retail price accessible.

Just my opinion... but I'm still rocking a 5th GEN iPod Classic for a very useful/specific use. It seems doomed to conk sooner than later and I'd like a replacement that is NOT a phone or tablet.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
23 months ago

I always thought it would be cool to make at least make one more generation of the iPod Classic with support for syncing Apple Music playlists and full switching AirPods support. Ultra thin like the nano, higher end DAC so it sounds good and a headphone jack.
I'd be completely there, beyond first in line (breaking into the store before it opens to get one and just leave the money on the counter). ;)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
23 months ago
The collection would be better suited for a museum so it could be viewed as a whole. Apple should purchase the entire collection.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SamRyouji Avatar
23 months ago

To this day, with nearly every product they release, I find myself wishing for "way more color!"

It's incredibly boring to have these muted shades of XYZ colors that barely pop in the slightest

No fun - no personality ... just "blah"
True. I think the era of soft / muted / pastels should end. I'd love myself a set of Mondrian colors like Karl's iPod nanos. Could Apple be courageous enough to at least release a Product(RED) iPad and/or MacBook?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
11 hours ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
11 hours ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
11 hours ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
12 hours ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
14 hours ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
20 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
21 hours ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
1 day ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
1 day ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
1 day ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
1 day ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
1 day ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
1 day ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
1 day ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
1 day ago
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
1 day ago
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
2 days ago
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
2 days ago
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
2 days ago
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
2 days ago
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
2 days ago
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
2 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
2 days ago
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
2 days ago
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
Where Did All the iPhone Duos Go? Mostly to Apple's Stores
2 days ago
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
Apple's Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Ship 1.5M Units in 2027
2 days ago
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
New Apple TV 4K and iPad Mini: RAM Amounts Revealed
2 days ago
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz Display
2 days ago
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
Here's a Hands-On Look at HomePod Mini 2's New Two-Tone Colors
2 days ago