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Probably not. The often-repeated $25,000 figure was an eBay asking price for an unlocked iPhone 11 Pro Max that still showed Twitter’s former bird icon after the 2023 rebrand to X. The listing was reportedly removed because of an error, and the available reporting identifies no completed $25,000 sale. Treat the headline as “listed for $25,000,” not “worth $25,000.”
An old Twitter icon can give an iPhone novelty or niche collector appeal, but the phone’s real resale value depends on verified transactions, authenticity, condition, model, storage, carrier status and provenance.
What the $25,000 story actually says
A July 31, 2023 report identified an eBay listing for an unlocked iPhone 11 Pro Max displaying the old Twitter app icon. The seller reportedly asked $25,000, then the listing was removed because of an error. Other devices were advertised around $800–$1,000, while an iPhone 13 reportedly carried a $10,000 starting bid and a $15,000 Buy It Now price. These were all reported asking prices, not proof of what buyers paid. The original report does not establish a completed transaction or a reliable market range.
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That distinction matters in collectibles:
- Asking price: what a seller hopes to receive.
- Starting bid: an auction’s opening amount.
- Buy It Now: a seller’s requested immediate-purchase price.
- Completed sale: evidence that a buyer actually paid.
- Market value: a defensible range supported by multiple comparable completed sales.
No completed-sale evidence in the available reporting supports a $25,000 valuation. Most owners should regard the icon as a novelty or niche collectible, not a guaranteed windfall.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What is collectible?
This is not a special Apple handset with a rare physical logo. The potentially interesting feature is an iPhone that retained the former Twitter app’s name and bird icon after Twitter became X. Collectors might value a phone as a preserved snapshot of internet culture, especially if the installation is genuine and has continuous provenance.
An icon alone proves very little. A phone may show:
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
- the original installed Twitter app with its old branding;
- a later app whose icon was changed;
- a manually created Home Screen shortcut or custom icon; or
- a screenshot or themed launcher on a different device.
An authentic old installation, documented before the device is altered, is likely more interesting than a recreated icon—but that is a market inference, not an established pricing rule.
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There is no reliable model-by-model price guide. The reported examples included an iPhone 11 Pro Max and an iPhone 13, but one model should not be assumed to command the same premium as another. Evaluate the entire item:
Rank #3
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
- Completed-sale evidence: the strongest signal. Active listings do not set a market price.
- Authenticity: show that the old branding belongs to the installed app, not a shortcut.
- Model and storage: identify the exact iPhone, capacity and finish.
- Condition: disclose screen, frame, cameras, back glass and battery health.
- Functionality: explain whether the app opens, authenticates and connects normally.
- Unlocked status: carrier restrictions, financing or Activation Lock can sharply reduce value.
- Provenance: receipts, original packaging and a credible ownership history improve buyer confidence.
- Software state: resetting, restoring or updating may destroy the feature being sold.
How to authenticate your iPhone before listing it
- Photograph and video the Home Screen with a current timestamp.
- If possible, open the app and record its title and interface. Do not assume that an icon by itself is sufficient.
- In Settings → General → About, record the model and capacity. Share the serial number or IMEI privately with a serious buyer, not publicly.
- Record battery health, physical condition and whether the phone is unlocked.
- Demonstrate that the device is not Activation Locked and that you can properly transfer or erase it at sale.
- Keep packaging and accessories if available, and explain any missing items.
Never publish your Apple Account details, phone number, messages, full IMEI or other personal information in a listing.
How to preserve the old icon
Apple says App Store apps update automatically by default. On current iPhone software, the control is Settings → Apps → App Store → App Updates; turn it off before documenting the phone. Menu names can vary by iOS version and region. See Apple’s update instructions and its iPhone User Guide.
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- 6.1" Super Retina XDR display. 5G Superfast downloads, high?quality streaming
- Cinematic mode in 1080p at 30 fps. Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60 fps. 2X Optical zoom range
- A15 Bionic chip. New 6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores. New 4-core GPU. New 16-core Neural Engine
- Up to 19 hours video playback. Face ID. Ceramic Shield front. Aerospace-grade aluminum
The original report also recommended airplane mode, disconnecting from Wi‑Fi and preventing automatic updates. That may preserve the visible state, but it can make the phone less useful. Turning off updates is not a permanent guarantee: manual updates, deleting and reinstalling the app, restoring a backup, operating-system changes, server shutdowns, account requirements, device failure or App Store availability changes can still alter the result. Apple does not promise that an old app version will remain installable or functional indefinitely.
| Choice | Benefit | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Keep offline and disable updates | Best chance of retaining the old icon | Reduced connectivity and usability |
| Keep connected | Easier everyday use and verification | Greater update and account risk |
| Reset the phone | Better privacy for resale | May destroy or alter the collectible software state |
| Keep the existing account | May preserve some functionality | Privacy, security and transfer complications |
How to sell responsibly
If you list the phone on eBay or another protected marketplace, describe it accurately:
Best Value
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
- Say “asking price”, not “market value” or “worth $25,000.”
- Use current, timestamped photos and video.
- State the exact model, storage, battery health, carrier status and condition.
- Explain whether the app opens, whether it can authenticate and whether the phone must remain offline.
- Disclose that updates, restoration or reset could remove the old branding.
- Use tracked shipping, platform payment and clear return terms; avoid off-platform deals.
Do not reset or erase the phone until you understand whether doing so will remove the software state. Conversely, do not transfer an Apple Account or leave personal data behind merely to make the app appear functional. Privacy and Activation Lock are more important than a speculative premium.
How buyers can avoid a bad deal
- Request a current, timestamped video rather than relying on old screenshots.
- Confirm the device is a real iPhone and that the Twitter icon is an installed app, not a shortcut.
- Check model and storage in Settings, and verify Activation Lock is removed before payment.
- Confirm the phone is not carrier-locked, financed or reported stolen.
- Ask what happens when the app is opened and whether the seller has kept the device offline.
- Compare completed transactions, not active listings.
- Be skeptical of “one of one,” “investment” or “guaranteed profit” language without transaction history.
Why software artifacts can attract collectors
App removals and rebrands can preserve a moment in digital culture. A phone that still displays Twitter’s bird can function like a “last-version” artifact, much as discontinued games and apps have attracted nostalgia. The original report mentioned iPhones retaining Flappy Bird, including a very high advertised figure; that comparison should also be treated cautiously unless a completed sale is independently verified.
Software collectibles are especially uncertain. Updates, authentication, operating-system compatibility, account access and remote servers can change the object after it leaves the seller. Android users may sometimes sideload older APK files, but availability varies by device, version, region and security settings, and a manual reinstall does not prove uninterrupted historical preservation. None of this establishes that Android devices have no value or that an old iPhone app has a guaranteed premium.
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Bottom line
Unless a seller can show a completed transaction, $25,000 is an asking price—not proof that an iPhone with the old Twitter logo is worth $25,000. Document the software state before connecting or updating the device, authenticate the app rather than just the icon, protect personal data and price from verified sales. For most owners, the realistic expectation is novelty and niche collector interest, not a five-figure payday.
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