Smartphones preloaded with TikTok are listed online for tens of thousands of dollars on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace. While the demand is evident, it remains unclear whether buyers will pay these sky-high prices.
TikTok, the widely popular short-video app, was briefly unavailable to download in the United States over the past weekend. However, as of Sunday, those who had already downloaded the app could still use it. For anyone who didn’t act in time, the app is now unavailable on Apple and Google’s US app stores, making these preloaded devices a rare commodity.
TikTok ban delayed, but uncertainty continues
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of a TikTok ban until early April. This decision came shortly after the US Supreme Court upheld a law that requires TikTok to secure a non-Chinese buyer by January 19 or face a ban from US app stores.
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing, and concerns over data privacy have driven the US government’s attempts to limit the app’s availability. Despite the current ban, TikTok remains accessible to its estimated 170 million US users who have already downloaded it.
The temporary pause in enforcing the ban has left a window of opportunity for entrepreneurial sellers. Devices preloaded with TikTok and other ByteDance apps, such as Lemon8 and CapCut, are now being sold online—prices on eBay range from US$340 to an astonishing US$50,000.
Enterprising sellers cash in on TikTok demand
One such seller, Nicholas Matthews from New York, listed his iPhone 14 Plus, preloaded with TikTok, for US$10,000. Matthews revealed that his highest bid so far was US$4,550. “I’m just expecting to sell this one phone,” he explained.
While listings for tens of thousands of dollars may seem excessive, smartphones in the hundreds attract the most bids. Still, no clear data exists on how many of these devices have been sold.
E-commerce giant eBay has yet to comment on the listings. Meanwhile, questions remain about whether the delayed TikTok ban will be held and if ByteDance is willing to sell its US operations to avoid further restrictions.
As uncertainty continues, preloaded devices are becoming a hot ticket for those who missed their chance to download TikTok. However, whether buyers are truly willing to part with thousands of dollars for such devices is still up in the air.
