TikTok ban fuels iPhone frenzy: Prices soar to $5,000
Americans have limited access to the TikTok app due to nationwide restrictions. As a result, offers for iPhones with TikTok already installed have started to appear, with some prices being downright surreal.
On January 19, 2025, TikTok stopped working in the U.S. However, this turned out to be only a temporary situation, as Donald Trump "granted" ByteDance an additional 75 days to finalize a sale agreement in the U.S.
iPhone with TikTok for a fortune
TikTok started working again, but it is currently not available for download in Apple's App Store or Google Play. Given the situation, new users or anyone who uninstalled the app earlier are at a disadvantage.
The most desperate might consider purchasing an iPhone with TikTok already installed. Naturally, there is a premium for the privilege of using the app in such challenging and uncertain times.
On platforms like eBay, an iPhone 16 Pro Max with TikTok installed is listed for $5,000, and an iPhone 16 Plus is listed for over $3,000. Moreover, there are offers for older models at significantly higher prices. The scale of this phenomenon is notable.
Not only TikTok
It is worth noting that it is not only TikTok that is under scrutiny by the U.S. administration but also other apps owned by ByteDance's parent companies. These include Lemon8 and the popular CapCut, which is used for video editing.
The fate of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, and the situation is changing rapidly. Importantly, the app is facing challenges not only in the U.S. A notable example is the Albanian government's decision to impose a one-year ban on TikTok for all its citizens.
