Phones today come in a wide range of price ranges. At the top end, there are devices pushing close to $ 2,000. It may seem steep, but there have been much more expensive phones.
What qualifies as “expensive”?
When it comes to “expensive” phones, there are really two types. There is realistic expensive – like the Galaxy S “Ultra” series – which is certainly expensive, but it’s not absurd and you get a very good phone.
The second type are status symbols. These phones are not practical for anyone to buy or use. They have ridiculous features and even more ridiculous prices. Advanced brands love to slap their names on these phones.
Note: For this list, I will mix phones from both of these categories. This is not just a ranking based on price.
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Samsung Galaxy Fold: $ 1,980
Let’s start at the “realistic” end of the spectrum. The original Samsung Galaxy Fold was released in 2019 with a starting price of $ 1,980. This was the first device with a foldable screen that hit the regular market.
Bleeding edge technology often comes at a hefty price, and the Galaxy Fold was no exception. Despite the launch issues, it was a very exciting device and the price felt reasonable. You got a device that could work as a tablet or phone and still fit in your pocket.
The Fold series has continued to improve since then, and Samsung now has more affordable folding options.
Sony Xperia PRO 5G: $ 2,500
I was not expecting to find a Sony phone when I searched for this list, but the Xperia PRO 5G blew me away. Sony launched this phone in early 2021 with a huge price tag of $ 2,500.
What makes this phone so expensive? It looks like a pretty standard smartphone on the outside. Do not be fooled, it contains a lot of serious hardware – and it’s much more than just big megapixel numbers.
The Xperia PRO 5G can function as a 4K camera screen, a file transfer device and a 5G modem. This is a phone targeted at people who do a lot of advanced video and photography work. It’s not for everyone, but it may be worth the price for the right people.
Be Signature Cobra: $ 360,000
You can not write a list of the most expensive phones and not include Vertu. This luxury brand has been pumping out ridiculous devices for a long time. Signature Cobra is one of the dumbest, and it cost a whopping $ 360,000 in 2017.
We are now in the category of impractical expensive phones. Signature Cobra is not even a smartphone. It is a very basic feature phone adorned with gold plating and a cobra with jewels wrapped around the phone. This is an example of something that tries to look so expensive that it ends up being cheap and sticky.
Goldvish Le Million: $ 1.3 million
Speaking of sticky phones … oh my. The Goldvish Le Million is one of the ugliest phones I found in my research. It was unveiled in 2006 at the insane price of $ 1.3 million.
This was before the original iPhone was announced, so we can apologize to Goldvish Le Million for not being a smartphone. The crazy price comes from the 18-karat white gold body in the form of a strange boomerang. It is also topped with 120 carat diamonds.
The kicker? Only three of these were ever made. At least you knew you had something unique.
Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond: $ 48.5 million
Over the years, many designers have released extravagantly decorated iPhones. Nothing tops the insanely named Falcon Supernova iPhone 6 Pink Diamond to $ 48.5 million.
Compared to other custom iPhones, this one is pretty simple. It is an iPhone 6 with an exterior in 24 carat gold. There were also Rose Gold and Platinum versions. But what does the disastrous price tag bring? The big ‘ol diamond on the back.
Yes, this is literally an iPhone with a large pink diamond embedded on the back. Diamonds of this size are generally considered very valuable. The person who bought this phone in 2004 would like to show it off.
Oh, and if $ 48.5 million is a little too rich for you, there were more affordable versions for $ 42.5 million and $ 32.5 million, respectively.