The temporary removal of TikTok from U.S. app stores has created a surprising secondary market: iPhones with the app pre-installed are being listed on eBay for thousands of dollars. This unusual trend follows TikTok’s brief ban from mobile platforms after a federal law demanded the app be sold to a U.S.-based company or risk a nationwide ban. While President Donald Trump has signed an executive order delaying its enforcement, the app remains unavailable for download on Apple’s App Store and Google Play for new users.
A Lucrative Opportunity Emerges
Given that TikTok is not available for new download, savvy sellers have flooded eBay-style sites with listings for smartphones containing the app. There are some selling for eye-popping prices, from as low as $500 to as high as $25,000. Some of the listings are marked sold but it isn’t clear whether those sales were at the listed price or based on negotiation.
A seller in Ruskin, Florida, listed an iPhone 15 Pro Max with TikTok for $10,000, claiming over 1,800 views in just 24 hours. Similarly, a North Carolina user advertised an iPhone 16 Pro Max for $25,000. While many listings have attracted attention, most lack active bids, indicating skepticism among buyers despite the app’s popularity.
Why the Ban Took Place
TikTok has been removed from app stores due to security concerns over data and geopolitical tensions. A federal law requires companies such as Apple, Google, and Oracle, which enable TikTok to operate in the United States, to cease services to the app unless ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, sells the platform to a U.S.-based buyer. Violators face fines of up to $5,000 per user who continues to access TikTok.
The ban has highlighted bipartisan concerns over foreign ownership of tech platforms that manage sensitive user data. While ByteDance initially resisted selling TikTok, it is now in negotiations for a deal. However, reaching an agreement is a complex process involving regulatory hurdles in both the U.S. and China.
iPhones With TikTok: A Golden Ticket?
For some, having TikTok on the phone automatically made the devices hot commodities. Now, the sophisticated algorithm by which the app adapts to user preferences has made it indispensable for creators as well as casual users. Those who mistakenly deleted TikTok before the ban or never downloaded it can no longer retrieve the app without sideloading methods that may be against Apple’s or Google’s policies.
While most listings on eBay do not receive a buyer, the sense of scarcity has driven prices up. A second-generation iPhone with TikTok recently sold for $1,200—way above its market value. Another seller on Facebook Marketplace claimed to have received offers of $3,000 for an iPhone with the app, highlighting the persistent demand.
TikTok’s Murky Future
The app’s future remains uncertain, though it has been reinstated for its current users. The Trump administration has delayed a resolution and suggested that a U.S.-based company like Oracle or Walmart be paired with ByteDance to alleviate national security concerns. For now, the pressure has subsided, but experts say the uncertainty could further harm TikTok’s enormous U.S. user base and advertising ecosystem.
If the deal is closed, TikTok would reappear within weeks in its app stores, but if any further delay took place, the app would eventually lose users who would move towards other apps or black markets. General Atlantic-one of ByteDance’s largest investors-was sanguine, saying the negotiations might wrap up within days.
A Risky Investment
While the idea of selling TikTok-enabled phones for thousands of dollars is very appealing, buyers should be cautious. No assurance owning such a device will retain value, especially if TikTok becomes available again in app stores. Inflated used telephone prices could also send away potential legitimate buyers, further adding to the unsold inventory.
In the meantime, music, dance, and lip-sync video fans waiting for the return of the application keep refreshing the app store. Until then, the lack of that application reminds people of where technology, politics, and commerce can intersect with unpredictability.
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