Buzz
Times of crisis often reveal the darker side of human behavior—from individuals stockpiling toilet paper and reselling it at inflated prices during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, to others attempting to offload low-quality iPhones preloaded with Fortnite for astronomical sums.
While I’d typically dismiss this as a transparent scam unlikely to succeed, it seems some buyers have fallen for it. Shoppers on eBay are shelling out ridiculous amounts for iPhones they have no real use for.
Purchasing a used iPhone 11 Pro at a price higher than Apple’s retail for a new model is already questionable, but it’s even more absurd to spend such exorbitant amounts—literally thousands of dollars—on older models like the iPhone XR or iPhone 8 Plus. As the saying goes, there’s a sucker born every minute, and ideally, eBay would implement a ‘common sense’ screening process for its users.
Regardless, this entire scheme is a scam you should steer clear of, no matter how much your child insists they can’t install Fortnite on their iPhone or iPad.
Never overspend on an outdated iPhone
The most glaring issue is that you’re paying an astronomical sum for an iPhone just to play one game. If you’re willing to drop $4,000 on a $1,000 smartphone, consider buying your child a $1,000 laptop instead, which can easily run Fortnite. Even a $500 laptop would suffice for a smooth gaming experience.
Your ability to play Fortnite might be short-lived
More critically, there’s no assurance that an iPhone preloaded with Fortnite—a common scenario for fans—will remain functional for long. A single iOS update could disrupt the game, making it entirely unusable. Since Fortnite is no longer available on the App Store, Epic Games cannot provide updates, and their Apple developer account will soon be inactive. Your gaming experience with Fortnite seems precarious.
Even under the best circumstances, you won’t have access to the latest version of the game, including any seasonal updates from Epic Games. It’s unclear how long an older version of Fortnite will remain playable, but it’s likely this opportunity will eventually vanish.
You could end up wasting every dollar you spend
Lastly, you might not even require an iPhone with Fortnite preinstalled. Although the game is no longer on the App Store, it’s still possible to download it from the App Store.
Here’s the explanation. If you’ve previously downloaded Fortnite on iOS—which is likely for most people seeking the game now, given its three-year history—it remains linked to your account.
Open the App Store, click on your account icon in the top-right corner, and select “Purchased.” Look for “Fortnite,” and if you’re fortunate, it will be available for re-download. This method is far simpler and more cost-effective than purchasing someone else’s iPhone, though I must commend these eBay sellers for their entrepreneurial spirit. Still...just no.
