TikTok’s absence from U.S.-based app stores has sparked a lucrative market for preloaded devices and entrepreneurs have seized the opportunity, offering phones with TikTok already installed for staggering prices.
Nicholas Matthews, a New York resident, listed an iPhone 14 Plus with TikTok pre-installed for $10,000, according to the Associated Press. As of Friday, the highest bid reached $4,550—more than triple the cost of a brand-new iPhone without the app.
The New York Times highlights another case: Mr. Gustab, an IT engineer, put his iPhone 15 Pro on Facebook Marketplace for $3,000. That’s three times the price of a new iPhone 16 Pro. Despite the steep price, Gustab received a $1,200 offer by Thursday night, nearly double the cost of a refurbished iPhone 15 Pro without TikTok.
The demand is evident on platforms like eBay, where the search term “iPhone with TikTok” pulls up over 49,000 results.
With TikTok’s availability in limbo, the secondary market for preloaded devices shows no signs of slowing down, proving that where there’s a ban, there’s always someone willing to capitalize.
