Sonny Dickson is known for leaking the latest information about upcoming smartphones. We've covered several Sonny leaks on Tom's Guide over the years, and his track record is quite solid.
But Dickson isn't just here to spill the beans about upcoming phones. He's also a fan of the past, which is why his new product, called Collectible Phones, is designed to take discarded smartphones from the past and transform them into art.
As soon as I saw the first framed phone, I had to know more about the project. I did some digging and found that it's not just about making art, but there's a "commitment to sustainability" motivating the project.
We generate a significant amount of e-waste, so finding a way to repurpose old phones is beneficial. It could introduce a whole new item to collect — people collect retro games and other old tech, so why not phones?
Why old phones?
I asked Dickson what inspired him to start the project. "Everything I saw on the market just wasn’t very good, poor layouts, low-quality parts, or sloppy presentation," he said in an interview with Tom's Guide. "I knew I could create something that truly celebrated the technology and history of these devices, with the quality and attention to detail they deserved."
Currently, the website has a deconstructed original iPhone for sale. It's a conversation piece to have on the wall, and it gives you a little history of the first iPhone.
Every detail, from the dimensions to the specs of the camera, is laid out. If you've ever wanted to take an original iPhone apart but were too afraid to, this $349 art piece is worth a look.
And it's not just the art pieces — Dickson's website features a wide selection of vintage phones for sale, all of which are fully intact and in good condition. You can get an original iPhone, the T-Mobile G1, the first Android phone and more. The prices are reasonable for these phones, with the G1 selling for only $167.
Acquiring the devices
But these phones aren't easy to find, as Dickson says that getting them is "extremely hard, especially if you’re looking for perfect back housings and original components in great condition."
As soon as you start talking about collecting, you have to think about rarity. Every collectible item, from trading cards to Funko Pops, has its value connected to rarity. If collecting old phones takes off, some devices are going ot be harder to come by than others.
"The 4GB iPhone 2G is one of the rarest. It was only on the market for a short time before Apple replaced it with the 8GB version. Finding one in pristine condition can feel like hunting for some sort of treasure," said Dickson regarding the rarest phone.
If you have one of those kicking around your home, you may have a piece of history that not everyone can get their hands on.
