Setting up an original iPhone today is not as easy as you think

The original iPhone is undoubtedly a legendary device that revolutionized the smartphone industry. Owning an unopened original iPhone is an extraordinary find, which is why it’s not surprising that tech reviewers like MKBHD (Marques Brownlee) are willing to spend a significant amount of money (almost $40,000) to get their hands on it. However, unboxing and setting up the original iPhone today may not be as easy as you think.

The packaging of the original iPhone is surprisingly simple, yet elegant. The plastic-wrapped iPhone, along with the black microfiber cloth, wired earphones, stickers, and manual, comes in a small white box. The charger, 30-pin charging cable, and charging dock complete the packaging. However, what sets it apart from the latest iPhones is the use of plastic wrapping, which Apple no longer uses in its current packaging.

The original iPhone has a 3.5-inch glass display that replaced the initial 3.5-inch plastic display. It was a significant change made by Apple due to Steve Jobs’ dissatisfaction with the initial display’s scratchability. The screen is tiny by today’s standards, but it was a significant milestone in the history of smartphone technology.

MKBHD’s attempt to set up the original iPhone shows that it’s not an easy task. The original iPhone requires iTunes to set up, which Apple no longer supports. Although users can download the old version of the software, unlocking the phone remains a challenge. Additionally, the original iPhone did not come with an Apple Store or the option to change the wallpaper, making it an even more challenging device to set up by modern standards.

Another interesting feature of the original iPhone is the presence of a headphones jack, which Apple removed from the iPhone 7 and later models. The iPhone AT&T variant that MKBHD purchased also includes a regular-size SIM card, which was the norm in those days.