How Much are Phones with TikTok Selling For: What’s Actually Happening in the Market

You’ve probably seen the headlines or heard a friend of a friend joke about it. Since the chaotic saga of the TikTok ban in the U.S. began, some people have started treating their old iPhones like they’re carrying a golden ticket. It’s a weird, slightly desperate niche that reminds a lot of us of when Flappy Bird got pulled from the App Store years ago. Suddenly, a piece of software you used to get for free is the "value-add" on a used device.

But honestly, if you're looking for a quick payday or a way to stay on the FYP, you need to know the reality of the numbers.

The Wild World of TikTok Phone Prices

If you head over to eBay right now and search for "iPhone with TikTok installed," you’re going to see some numbers that look like typos. There are listings for iPhone 15 Pro Max models sitting at $10,000. Some people have even listed phones for $25,000 or a truly insane $5 million—usually because they’ve bundled it with CapCut too.

It’s hilarious, really.

But here is the catch: listing a phone for five grand doesn't mean it’s selling for five grand. Most of these high-end "TikTok loaded" phones have zero bids. They are basically digital lawn ornaments. When you actually look at the "Sold" filters, the story changes.

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Generally, phones that are actually moving are selling for a much more grounded premium. You might see an older iPhone 13 or 14 that would normally be worth $350 or $400 going for $600 or $700. People are willing to pay a "convenience tax" of maybe $100 to $300 to get the app pre-loaded, but very few people are dropping car-down-payment money on a used smartphone just to see a dance trend.

The market is split into three main buckets:

• The Dreamers: Asking $5,000+ (Nothing is happening here).
• The Opportunists: Asking $800 to $1,500 for modern iPhones. Some of these actually sell to people who have the cash and zero patience.
• The Realistic Sellers: Adding maybe $50 to $100 to the standard market value. These move quickly.

Why are phones with TikTok selling for so much (on paper)?

The logic is simple: scarcity. Because the app was removed from the official Apple and Google app stores, you can’t just go and download it anymore. If you delete it by accident, or if you buy a brand-new phone and try to transfer your data, you might find yourself staring at a greyed-out icon.

For creators whose entire livelihood depends on the platform, that’s a nightmare. They aren't just buying a phone; they're buying their job back.

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There’s also a massive technical hurdle. If you buy one of these phones, you can't just log into your own iCloud and "restore from backup." Doing that would often overwrite the device and potentially wipe the very app you paid extra for. Sellers are having to keep their accounts signed out while leaving the app binary on the storage. It’s a delicate dance.

One thing people forget is that TikTok is still technically "up" for those who have it. Since President Trump signed executive orders to delay the enforcement and sought a 75-day pause (and then another), the servers haven't been totally nuked. But because the stores can't distribute it, the only way to get it is to already have it.

The Risks Most Buyers Ignore

Look, buying a used phone for a premium because of one app is risky business. Software is fragile.

What happens when Apple releases iOS 19 or 20 and the version of TikTok on that phone isn't compatible? Since you can't update the app through the App Store, it eventually becomes a "zombie app." It might crash on launch, or TikTok might change something on their server side that makes the old version obsolete.

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You’re essentially paying a premium for a product with a very short expiration date.

Then there’s the security side of things. Experts like Pieter Arntz have pointed out that buying a phone that hasn't been factory reset is a privacy nightmare. You’re inheriting whatever junk—or worse, malware—the previous owner had. Plus, if the seller is a scammer, they could remotely lock the phone via "Find My" after you've already sent the money.

Real Examples of Recent Sales

To give you an idea of what’s actually happening in early 2026:

• An iPhone 16 Pro Max with TikTok installed recently sold for about $1,500. That’s a couple hundred over retail.
• Samsung Galaxy S24 models are seeing less of a "TikTok bump," mostly because Android users have "sideloading" options that iPhone users don't. They usually sell for near-market price.
• Older tech, like an iPhone 11, might fetch $400, which is double what it’s worth without the app.

The "millions of dollars" stories you see on social media are almost always fake or "joke" listings. Don't let the outliers fool you into thinking your cracked iPhone 12 is suddenly worth a Rolex.

Actionable Steps for Sellers and Buyers

If you’re sitting on a phone with TikTok and thinking about cashing in, or if you’re so desperate for the app that you’re willing to buy one, keep these points in mind:

1. Check the "Sold" Listings: Never trust the "Active" price. Filter by "Completed Items" on eBay to see what people actually paid.
2. Don't Factory Reset: If you're selling, you have to sign out of iCloud/Google accounts but do not "Erase All Content and Settings." If you do, the app is gone forever.
3. Verify the Version: Buyers should ask the seller what version of the app is installed. Older versions are more likely to break sooner.
4. Use Protected Payments: Never, ever use "Friends and Family" on PayPal or Venmo for this. If the app doesn't work when it arrives, you need a way to get your money back.
5. Consider the Web: Before you spend $1,000, remember you can still access TikTok through a mobile browser. It’s not as smooth, but it’s free.

The market for these devices is purely driven by FOMO. As soon as a "new" version of TikTok for the U.S. launches—which rumors suggest could happen by March 2026—the value of these "banned" app phones will drop to zero overnight. If you're going to sell, do it now. If you're going to buy, maybe just wait a few months and save your cash.