Phones With TikTok App Are Commanding Thousands of Dollars on eBay

A smartphone screen displaying a folder labeled "Social Media" with nine app icons: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, WeChat, Telegram, Messenger, and Snapchat. Notifications are visible on Facebook and Instagram.
hapabapa/istockphoto

TikTok’s recent ban and subsequent reinstatement in the United States — all in an agonizing 24 hours for TikTokers — has sparked an unexpected gold rush on eBay. iPhones with the TikTok app installed are listed at jaw-dropping prices, some reaching almost as high as $5 million. Yes, $5 actual million. While the legality and practicality of these listings remain questionable, some frantic buyers might bite. 

What’s Being Sold?

A person holding an iPhone showing the home screen. Various apps are visible, such as Calendar, Settings, Alarm Clock, Snapchat, TikTok, and more. There's a notification badge with 396 on the Messages app. The person is wearing jeans and a blue shirt.
smokeynbandit1 / ebay
smokeynbandit1 / ebay

The current eBay listings feature iPhones with TikTok already downloaded. These phones range from older models like the iPhone 11 to the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max. Listing prices range from $5,000 to a staggering $4,970,400 — and in case you need a reference point, a brand new iPhone 16 Pro Max costs about $1,000 directly from Apple.

Why Are Prices So High?

TikTok
5./15 WEST/istockphoto
5./15 WEST/istockphoto

This TikTok-driven price gouging is reminiscent of when your favorite snack gets discontinued and you can only find it on eBay for astronomical prices. Here, we have the same concept but a different vice. For users who didn’t have TikTok downloaded on their phones when the app went dark, they can no longer download the app, despite the ban pause. The only way to get access to the app for the time being is to buy a phone with it already installed. Folks on eBay are trying to define how badly people pine for TikTok, inspiring the high listing prices. It almost feels like a hostage negotiation. 

Is Anyone Bidding on These Phones?

Close-up of a person's hands typing on a laptop keyboard. The individual is wearing a white shirt, and the laptop is placed on a reflective surface. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a bright indoor setting.
Tippapatt / istockphoto
Tippapatt / istockphoto

Short answer: Yes. Here’s the deal, though. Any of the listings open for bidding (some are just a “pay this or kick rocks” listing) are seeing some bid activity, but the people bidding aren’t jumping out of the gate to throw thousands at these phones. And no one has actually hit the “Buy Now” button on a listing with several zeroes at the end of it. Instead, the current bids are hanging out at much more modest price points between $50 and $200. But who knows what bidding wars might ensue as TikTok’s future becomes clearer?

So, Why Is TikTok Being Banned?

A modern building at night with large illuminated signs reading "ByteDance" and Chinese characters. The glass facade reveals interior office spaces, and there's a pool reflecting the structure in front.
Robert Way / istockphoto
Robert Way / istockphoto

The United States federal government has expressed concerns about the app’s potential to threaten national security, citing fears of data misuse by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. While TikTok was temporarily reinstated following assurances from President Trump, the law mandating its sale to a neutral party is still in effect.

The Future of TikTok

A smartphone with a blue case displays various social media app icons, including WhatsApp, TikTok, Discord, Facebook, Instagram, and X. The screen features a mountain wallpaper. The phone rests on a wooden surface.
Anzz Media / istockphoto
Anzz Media / istockphoto

For now, TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users can breathe a sigh of relief — unless, of course, you got a new phone the night of the ban and can no longer download the app without shelling out thousands (or millions) on eBay. But as lawmakers and tech leaders debate the app’s future, its cultural and financial impact — from eBay’s bizarre resale market to its influence on small businesses — continues to grow. Whether this is a temporary hiccup or the beginning of a larger battle remains to be seen.

Author
Rachel Schneider

Rachel is a Michigan-based writer with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing and English. Throughout her career, she has dabbled in a variety of subject matter from finance and higher education to lifestyle pieces and food writing. She also enjoys writing stories based on social media trends. Find her on Instagram @rachel.schneider922