If you hadn’t upgraded your iPhone every year, But had invested that Money in Apple stock, How much Money would you have Now?

MD Imran

Publish on: 17 September 2025

Publish on: 17 September 2025

Many of us rush to book the new iPhone every year as soon as it’s launched, or buy it as soon as it’s available in stores—because of new features, a desire for a better camera, or just to show off. But just imagine how much wealth you would have today if you had used that money to buy Apple stock instead of an iPhone. In this article, we’ll examine the iPhone vs. Apple stock battle—and what difference investing in Apple stock instead of spending on an iPhone upgrade every year could make.

At the iPhone 17 lunch, I did a calculation: If someone hadn’t upgraded their iPhone every year but invested that money in Apple stock, how much money would they have today?

So let us know how much that money would be worth today?

History of iPhone prices (2007–present)

The first iPhone launched in June 2007, with a base price of $499 in the US. While that iPhone was priced at $499 in 2007, it would have been roughly $278 in today’s market.
Subsequently, prices have risen as models have changed, new features have been added, and the base model has typically cost around $600–$800. For example, the iPhone 6/6 Plus started at $649. These dollar prices are as of 2007.

iPhone Prices: Then vs Now

iPhone Launch: June 2007, Base Price: $499 (~$278 today adjusted for inflation)
Price Trend: Prices increased as models evolved, new features added, base model typically $600–$800
Example Model: iPhone 6/6 Plus starting price $649 (2007 USD)

Apple stock growth (2007 to present)

If we look at how much Apple stock was worth in 2007, it was approximately $5.95 per share (adjusted for splits, etc.).
Since the first iPhone was launched in January 2007, Apple’s stock has risen nearly 7,390%—an astonishing annual growth of approximately 28.7%.
Imagine if you had invested just $3,000 in Apple in July 2007, that amount would be worth over $1.45 million today.

Apple Stock Growth Since 2007

Stock Price in 2007: ~$5.95 per share (adjusted for splits)
Growth Since iPhone Launch: ~7,390%, Annual Growth ~28.7%
Investment Example: $3,000 in July 2007 → ~$1.45 million today

Hypothetical calculation: New iPhone every year vs. investing in Apple stock

Let’s understand this with a simple model:

You buy a new base model iPhone every year.
Now invest the same money in buying Apple shares at the same time every year (at that year’s launch price).
If you had done this from 2007 to 2025

Example calculation (simple model):

Year	Cost of iPhone (approx.)	How much would he have gotten if he had invested the money in Apple stock instead of buying an iPhone?	The value of that share at today’s price
2007	$499	$499 would have bought ≈ 114 shares at the then stock price of $4.36	If today’s price is approximately $238 per share, then 114 × 238 = ≈ $27,132

This is just a one-year example. If you had invested that money in Apple stock instead of buying a new iPhone every year since 2007, the total amount would have been much higher due to the compounding effect.

iPhone Cost vs Apple Stock Value

iPhone Launch Year: 2007, Base Price: $499
Investment Alternative: $499 could have bought ≈ 114 Apple shares at $4.36 per share
Value Today: 114 shares × $238 ≈ $27,132

Year	iPhone Cost	Investment in Apple Stock	Value Today
2007	$499	≈ 114 shares at $4.36 each	≈ $27,132

iPhone vs Apple stock: Which strategy would have been better?

Now think about it—
Apple’s stock has risen year after year, even after dividends and stock splits. This means that anyone who holds shares has benefited.
Then comes Opportunity Cost—upgrading your iPhone every year will only bring you temporary happiness. But investing that same money for the long term can slowly build a substantial fortune.
And finally, Emotional Value vs. Financial Value—the fun, new features, and social status of owning a new iPhone are all well and good. But if the goal is simply to protect your money and add wealth, then buying shares in the “iPhone vs. Apple stock” race makes more sense.

Pros & Cons

Benefits of upgrading iPhone:

You get the latest hardware, a better camera, a faster processor, and more.
New features make it more fun and easier to use.
And you can even get some money back if you sell or trade it in later.

Meanwhile, the benefits of investing in Apple stock:

Compound returns can be substantial over time.
Stocks also benefit from things like dilution, stock splits, or dividends.
Moreover, it can be a great way to hedge against inflation and preserve your wealth.

But limitations of stock investment:

The market fluctuates, and stocks can sometimes fall.
It’s not always easy to sell shares immediately if needed.
And if the timing or strategy isn’t right at the beginning of your investment, the risk can be quite high.

Conclusion:

If you had invested that same money in Apple stock instead of buying a new iPhone every year since 2007, you would be much wealthier today. In this iPhone vs. Apple stock battle, if the goal is simply monetary gains and long-term wealth creation, Apple stock is the wiser choice.

But it’s important to remember that life isn’t just about investments—new gadgets, conveniences, and experiences also matter. Therefore, balance is crucial: spend some money on experiences, but save a portion for investments and the future.

FAQs

Imagine how much money you would have today if you had invested the same money in Apple shares instead of buying a new iPhone every year?

If, instead of buying every iPhone, you had bought Apple shares at the same price each time, you would have approximately $1,025,343 today, according to my calculations.

How much money would you have today if you had bought Apple stock instead of an iPhone in 2007?

If you had bought Apple shares instead of the first iPhone, that $499 would have become nearly $27,000+ today – long-term investing is truly powerful.