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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe phone behind the $15.3 million headline was a one-off custom iPhone 5 commissioned from designer Stuart Hughes, not an Apple model you could buy off the shelf. In April 2013, HotHardware reported its price as £10 million—about US$15.3 million at the time. That is a historical reported asking price, not a verified current value or proof that the phone is for sale today.
What was the Black Diamond iPhone?
HotHardware described the handset as an iPhone 5 rebuilt with precious materials by Stuart Hughes. Its 2013 report said a 26-carat black diamond replaced the Home button, while 600 white diamonds adorned the edges and Apple logo. The rear section was reported to use 135 grams of 24-carat gold, and the screen was described as sapphire glass. These specifications come from contemporary reporting; the cited articles do not provide an independent gemological appraisal or engineering inspection. HotHardware, April 15, 2013
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Cases for iPhone SE 2016/ 5s/5 (Not for 2020),Featuring A Simple and Transparent Design, with... | $7.90 | Buy on Amazon |
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Why was the price reported as $15.3 million?
HotHardware gave the price as £10 million and described it as around US$15.3 million. The dollar figure was a contemporaneous approximation in 2013, not a current currency conversion, auction result, or independently established market valuation. The reports do not establish that the phone later sold for that amount.
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Who commissioned it, and how long did it take?
Wall Street Insanity reported that the client was a Hong Kong businessman referred to as “Joe,” and that the black diamond was a family heirloom supplied by the client. The article said Hughes spent nine weeks crafting the phone. The person’s legal identity is not established by the reporting, and these details should be understood as that outlet’s account. Wall Street Insanity, April 17, 2013
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- Crafted With High-Quality Tpu Material. Slim Design, Ultra-Transparent. Precise Cutouts Align With Speakers, Camera, And All Ports For Easy Access To All Controls And Functions.
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- Package Includes: 1x Case, 1x Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Can you buy it today, and what is it worth now?
There is no confirmed current listing, owner, location, resale history, condition report, or present-day valuation in the cited coverage. HotHardware said the phone was listed on Hughes’s website when its April 2013 article was published; that dated statement does not show that the device remains available. A later 2016 Economic Times slideshow repeated the $15.3 million figure, but it is not evidence of a new sale or current valuation. The Economic Times, 2016
Is it an Apple product?
The reported base device was an iPhone 5, but the precious-material reconstruction was Hughes’s custom work. The cited reports do not establish Apple made, endorsed, or collaborated on the modifications. The name “Black Diamond iPhone 5” refers to this reported one-off commission, not a factory configuration.
Quick Recap
What the headline does—and does not—mean
- What it means: In 2013, an outlet reported a £10 million asking price, approximated then as US$15.3 million, for a custom iPhone 5.
- What it does not mean: The phone is confirmed for sale now, is currently worth $15.3 million, or holds a verified current record as the world’s most expensive phone.
- What remains unconfirmed: Current ownership, location, condition, subsequent sale, and independent appraisal.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
