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Showing 1–12 of 17 results
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BenQ P31 Unreleased Prototype: Nokia 6708’s Hidden Twin
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: X (Mystical Prototype)
⭐ WOW Factor: The BenQ P31 is the original device behind the Nokia 6708
It is one of the only non-Nokia smartphones ever sold with Nokia branding.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9.5/10
⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2004 | 💰 Release Price: N/A
📊 Units Sold: 0
📰 Why this phone matters: This unit is an ultra-rare BenQ P31 engineering prototype, representing one of the most historically significant missing links in Symbian UIQ development. Originally conceived around 2003-2004 as BenQ’s entry into the high-end touchscreen smartphone market, the P31 was built on Symbian OS 7 with UIQ 2.1 and designed as a compact, stylus-driven business device. It never reached commercial release, and only a very small number of early engineering samples were ever produced.This unit stands out immediately. It carries no BenQ branding, no label, no IMEI sticker, and no certification markings whatsoever, confirming it as a direct engineering lab device belonging to the EVT or very early DVT phase. Even more extraordinary, it boots with Nokia startup logos, revealing its role in one of the most unusual collaborations in Symbian history: the transformation of the BenQ P31 hardware platform into the commercial Nokia 6708.
During development, Nokia needed a UIQ device for Asian markets but did not want to engineer new UIQ hardware from scratch. Instead, Nokia evaluated the P31 as a potential base. This unit belongs to the narrow transitional window where Nokia UIQ firmware branches were loaded onto BenQ hardware to test compatibility, performance, and UIQ adaptation. Evidence of this includes Nokia boot screens, Nokia font structures, early Nokia overlays for PIM apps, and firmware variant directories corresponding to internal Nokia identifiers such as E582 or UIQ test builds. This type of cross-firmware contamination is almost never seen outside internal Symbian development environments.
Hardware examination indicates the original P31 layout: touchscreen with stylus input, UIQ key structure, OMAP-based platform, VGA camera module, and early UIQ 2.1 software stack. The matte prototype plastics, generic shielding, unbranded flex cables, and absence of final molding marks clearly separate it from the later Nokia 6708 retail hardware. Meanwhile, the Nokia firmware elements confirm the device was active during the validation period before Nokia redesigned the shell, finalized the PCB revisions, and prepared the 6708 for market release.
Historically, the BenQ P31 is known from documents, press mentions, and UIQ SDK references but extremely few physical units survive. Most were destroyed when BenQ cancelled its Symbian efforts and shifted to Windows Mobile and Siemens acquisition projects. Estimates based on engineering validation patterns suggest fewer than 40 to 80 EVT devices were made, with only a fraction entering Nokia testing flows. Units that display Nokia boot elements but retain full P31 prototype hardware are believed to number in the low single digits, making this unit one of the rarest Symbian UIQ artifacts in private hands.
Beyond rarity, this unit captures an entire unspoken chapter of smartphone evolution. It demonstrates how early OEM partnerships shaped device portfolios, how Symbian UIQ was adapted beyond Sony Ericsson hardware, and how Nokia explored touchscreen ecosystems prior to its Series 90 and later platforms. The P31 shows that Nokia was more deeply involved in UIQ experimentation than publicly acknowledged, using BenQ hardware as a bridge to enter UIQ markets quickly. It also highlights the technical flexibility of Symbian OS 7 and UIQ 2.1, which could be made to run on foreign hardware architectures with relatively limited porting.
For collectors, this unit sits at the highest echelon of prototype rarity. It is a never-released engineering platform, positioned between two manufacturers, with firmware that exposes internal development layers normally hidden inside corporate labs. It is a device that not only predates the Nokia 6708, but directly influenced its existence. As a result, this BenQ P31 prototype is not just a smartphone; it is a critical historical artifact documenting the intersection of BenQ’s abandoned Symbian ambitions and Nokia’s strategic adaptation of UIQ technology.
This unit, with its untouched prototype housing, label-free chassis, stylus support, UIQ interface, and Nokia boot sequences, stands as one of the finest surviving examples of transitional Symbian engineering hardware. It is a cornerstone piece for any top-tier collection focused on prototypes, UIQ development, or cross-manufacturer Symbian evolution.
📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔
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Benq Z2: Compact music phone
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)
⭐ WOW Factor: Designed as a music player and mini-game console first, and only secondly as a phone
👁 Evaluation in my collection: New – 10/10
⏱ Life timer: 0 | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2005 | 💰 Release Price: N/A
📊 Units Sold: ~250k
📰 Why this phone matters: BenQ-Siemens Z2 – Ultra-Rare Square Music Phone (Made in Taiwan) – New, No BoxThe BenQ-Siemens Z2 is one of the most unconventional and hard-to-find mobile phones ever produced by the brand. Released in very limited quantities around 2005, it features a distinctive square body, a side-mounted alphanumeric keypad, and a design language inspired more by early MP3 players and mini handheld consoles than by traditional phones.
Manufactured in Taiwan and introduced during the transition period just before the full BenQ-Siemens merger branding shift, the Z2 stands apart as a niche, short-lived model that never saw broad distribution. Today it is considered one of the rarest commercial BenQ / BenQ-Siemens devices.
This unit is new, showing no signs of prior use, but comes without its original box.
📝 Reviews when released: Engadget.com 🔗
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Motorola E18 Ivory Unreleased Prototype: The Lost Luxury
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: X (Mystical Prototype)
Ultra expensive luxury phone after Aura
👁 Evaluation in my collection: 9/10 – 10/10
⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2008 | 💰 Release Price: ~2000
📊 Units Sold: 0 unreleased
📰 Why this phone matters: The Motorola E18 Ivory is one of the rarest and most intriguing unreleased devices ever created by Motorola. Designed as a luxury slider phone with high-end materials and a unique dual-stop sliding mechanism, the E18 represented a bold and experimental direction that Motorola never brought to market. This prototype was intended to compete in the ultra-premium segment, with the stainless steel production version carrying a projected retail price of around 2000 eur;, placing it far above standard Motorola models of the era.This unit is an Ivory prototype in mint, as new, fully working condition, making it an exceptionally rare survivor. Very few E18 units were ever completed, and prototypes were typically scrapped, destroyed, or left non-functional. Having a working device in such preserved condition is considered unicorn-level rarity among Motorola collectors.
The defining feature of the E18 is its dual-stop slider mechanism. The first sliding step reveals a set of function keys, while the second sliding step exposes the complete T9 keypad. This layered mechanical design is unlike any mass-produced Motorola phone and reflects a level of engineering experimentation seen only in internal development devices. The combination of compact size, premium detailing, and complex mechanical motion makes the E18 one of the most innovative unreleased designs Motorola ever attempted.
Equipped with a 3 MP camera, premium external materials, and a sleek luxury aesthetic, the E18 Ivory was planned as a flagship device aimed at high-end buyers. Its design blends minimalist clean lines, luxury cues, and an advanced sliding system that offers a distinct tactile experience. The overall look and feel suggest that Motorola intended the E18 to stand alongside boutique luxury brands rather than mainstream consumer models.
Because the E18 project was cancelled before launch, surviving prototypes are extremely scarce. Most did not reach a stable operational state or were never finished to production quality. A mint, fully operational Ivory prototype is almost impossible to find, and it represents one of the most important pre-production artifacts in Motorola’s history. This device stands as a rare window into a luxury direction the company never pursued, making it a true collector trophy and a highlight in any high-end mobile phone collection.
📝 Reviews when released: PhoneArena.com 🔗
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NEC N900: Ultra-Compact 2004 GSM Phone
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)
⭐ WOW Factor: A phone so ahead of its time it forgot to include an earpiece – the NEC N900 is pure early-2000s sci-fi hardware.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 10/10
⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2004 | 💰 Release Price: ~320 $
📊 Units Sold: ~400k
📰 Why this phone matters: The NEC N900 is one of the most obscure and fascinating micro-handsets ever released in the early 2000s-a device that looks like a tiny PDA more than a phone, designed for the Chinese GSM/GPRS market and produced in extremely limited numbers. This particular unit stands out even further for its unconventional keypad layout, with keys positioned in a way that differs from final versions, suggesting an early-batch or special-production configuration rarely seen today.The N900 was engineered around minimalism and compactness, which led NEC to take one of its boldest decisions: the phone has no built-in earpiece. All voice calls must be made using the proprietary NEC headset, making it one of the few mobile phones in history that cannot be held to the ear to talk. This unusual constraint reflects NEC’s original intention for the N900 to be a messaging-centric smart device, not a traditional voice phone.
Despite its tiny footprint, the N900 packs surprising features for its era:
– a touch-style 2.2-inch display framed in metal
– circular metallic keys arranged in a distinctive grid
– full GSM/GPRS support
– NEC’s proprietary OS used on early N-series smart devices
– ultra-compact form factor comparable to the Nokia 82xx series, yet far more futuristic
This unit retains its authentic operator security seal, original structural components, and the rare keypad configuration-making it a genuinely collectible piece of early-2000s mobile experimentation.
A device like this embodies a short-lived moment when manufacturers dared to rethink what a phone could look like-before smartphones standardized everything. The NEC N900 is a perfect example of that creative chaos, and your piece is one of the cleanest surviving specimens.
📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔
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Nokia 5700: RM-302 Black China Edition
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)
⭐ WOW Factor: The only Nokia design where a single twist instantly switched the device’s personality: messaging, music, or camera.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Good – 8.5/10
⏱ Life timer: 2h | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2007 | 💰 Release Price: N/A
📊 Units Sold: ~1.5M
📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 5700 XpressMusic in full black is one of the rarest variants of Nokia’s rotating-multimedia smartphone lineup, produced in limited quantities for the Chinese market under type RM-302. Unlike the classic red-and-white global release, this black edition was never widely exported, and its appearance alone gives it a more modern, stealth-like identity compared to the traditional XpressMusic theme.RM-302 identifies the dedicated China-market hardware and firmware platform. This variant features localized Chinese firmware languages, regional GSM frequency configurations, Chinese SAR certifications, and distinct product codes used only in mainland China. It also includes Chinese-market keypad print variants and often slightly different audio tuning profiles for the XpressMusic sound engine, making it unique compared to the RM-230 and RM-235 global versions.
This model is instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic twist design: the lower half of the phone physically rotates, switching between phone keypad, camera mode, and dedicated multimedia controls. No other Nokia device combined physical transformation with smartphone features in this playful and functional way. Even today, the rotating mechanism feels sharp, solid, and satisfying in the hand.
This unit is fully working, and everything from the bright display to the twist motion and the XpressMusic player still operates correctly. The black housing appears clean and unique, and the handset reflects the Chinese-market identity through its labeling, firmware, and certification patterns. The label confirms this is a 2007 manufacturing batch for China, complete with regional approvals and variant coding specific to RM-302.
The Nokia 5700 remains one of the most unusual and entertaining Symbian smartphones ever made, remembered for its creative design, its music-centric features, and its transformation-style body that stands out even among Nokia’s most ambitious experiments. The RM-302 black Chinese-market edition elevates that uniqueness to a higher level, making it one of the hardest versions to find in full working condition.
📝 Reviews when released: cNET 🔗
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Nokia 5710 Unreleased Prototype B3.0: RM-187
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: X (Mystical Prototype)
⭐ WOW Factor: The only Nokia design where a single twist instantly switched the device’s personality: messaging, music, or camera.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9/10
⏱ Life timer: 0m | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2006 | 💰 Release Price: N/A
📊 Units Sold: 0 unreleased
📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 5710 (RM-187) prototype represents one of the rarest and most technically fascinating chapters in Nokia’s experimental design era. Built in Finland as a late-stage engineering sample, this unreleased device was intended to become the successor to the Nokia 5700 XpressMusic – and the final evolution of Nokia’s iconic twist-mechanism platform.Carrying the markings “Prototype ? Property of Nokia ? Not for Sale”, this RM-187 unit showcases hardware that never reached production: a redesigned rotating lower module, a reinforced hinge, and an upgraded rotary connector meant to eliminate the flex-cable failures seen on earlier twist models. Every piece of internal labeling, from its pre-production QR matrix to the B-series hardware stamps, confirms its status as an authentic high-level engineering device.
Unlike the retail 5700, the 5710 was slimmer, structurally stronger, and technically more advanced – an ambitious internal attempt to create the third-generation twist phone, following the 3250 and 5700. Development was ultimately halted, making RM-187 the final Nokia twist platform ever constructed.
The result is a prototype that combines unfinished industrial design, experimental hardware, and a form factor that was already disappearing from Nokia’s roadmap. With no retail release and only a handful of RM-187 boards ever confirmed, this piece stands as a true collector’s artifact – a preserved snapshot of a daring design direction that Nokia never shipped.
📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔
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Nokia 6135: China-Market CDMA Edition
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)
👁 Evaluation in my collection: BNIB – 10/10
⏱ Life timer: 0 | 📦 Boxed: YES
📅 Release Year: 2004 | 💰 Release Price: ~350 $
📊 Units Sold: ~500k
📰 Why this phone matters: A rare Nokia CDMA clamshell created exclusively for the Chinese market and engineered around Qualcomm’s CDMA2000 1x platform. Unlike Nokia’s global GSM lineup, the 6135 uses a Nokia-custom CDMA OS with BREW support, the “CDMA by Qualcomm” branding, and the distinctive hardware configuration unique to early China Telecom devices.Certified under CMII in 2004 and produced in limited volume, the 6135 remains one of the least-known Nokia models ever released. Running on the classic BL-5C battery and carrying RM-98 internal architecture, it represents a rarely seen branch of Nokia’s portfolio – a hybrid of Nokia design and Qualcomm radio technology.
📝 Reviews when released: N/A 💔
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Nokia 6708: Nokia’s Only BenQ-Engineered Touchscreen Anomaly
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: A (Rare)
⭐ WOW Factor: The only Nokia-branded smartphone ever made by BenQ.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: BNIB – 10/10
🕵 Nokia Codename: Pearl
⏱ Life timer: 0 | 📦 Boxed: YES
📅 Release Year: 2005 | 💰 Release Price: 500
📊 Units Sold: ~300k
📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 6708 (RM-139) is a China-market smartphone released in 2005 during Nokia’s experimental touchscreen era. Unlike any other Nokia device, the 6708 is not built on Nokia’s own S60/S40 architecture – instead, it is based on the BenQ P31, using UIQ 2.1 on Symbian 7.0, a TI OMAP processor, and a stylus-driven 2.7″ resistive touchscreen.Nokia redesigned the exterior, adjusted the UI elements, and released it exclusively to the Chinese market, where both Nokia and BenQ already had strong local footprints. Because of this limited and unusual partnership, the 6708 never appeared in eur;ope or the US and is extremely rare outside Asia.
With its hybrid DNA – Nokia branding + BenQ internals + UIQ touchscreen – the 6708 stands out as a one-off anomaly in Nokia’s entire catalog and is highly sought after by collectors who focus on prototypes, regional exclusives, and crossover devices.
📝 Reviews when released: Mobile Review 🔗
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Nokia 7500 Prism Prototype B3.0: Engineering Sample | Unreleased Gray Colour
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: X (Mystical Prototype)
⭐ WOW Factor:
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9.5/10
🕵 Nokia Codename: Scorpion
⏱ Life timer: 4m | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2007 | 💰 Release Price: ~230 €
📊 Units Sold: ~1M (final units)
📰 Why this phone matters: Nokia 7500b Prism – RM-250 PROTOTYPE (Codename: SCORPION) – a genuine engineering sample from Nokia’s internal development program. Features prototype IMEI (004401?), HWID exposure, pre-final RF labeling, and early R&D markings. This unit also includes a rare, unreleased graphite/metallic grey prototype housing used only on SCORPION pre-production builds before final Prism colours were approved. A highly valuable and historically significant prototype from the Prism design era📝 Reviews when released: Mobile Review 🔗
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Nokia 808 PureView Prototype PreB2.0 :The Birth of PureView
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: S (Ultra Rare)
⭐ WOW Factor: This phone was the first in mobile history to break the 40 MP barrier.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: As New – 9.8/10
⏱ Life timer: N/A | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2012 | 💰 Release Price: ~800$
📊 Units Sold: ~1M (final units)
📰 Why this phone matters: The Nokia 808 PureView is already a landmark device in mobile history, but this unit takes that legacy to an entirely different level. This is not a retail phone. It is a genuine internal Nokia RM-807 prototype, a PreB2 development device marked Model 000 and stamped Property of Nokia Not For Sale. It represents one of the earliest hardware and firmware iterations used inside the company while engineers were finalizing the PureView imaging engine that would shock the industry in 2012.This unit includes everything expected from a true Nokia RnD sample: a 004402 prototype IMEI, an early HWID board, an internal PSN, an unreleased product code, and the proto.nokia.com branding on the front glass. It was never meant for public hands. Very few of these survived destruction protocols once the final hardware entered mass production. The phone is fully working and in new condition, even though it was used originally as a development tool.
The camera module alone makes this device a collector dream. The 41 MP PureView sensor is one of the most celebrated camera innovations ever put in a phone, and on a prototype the imaging stack often behaves differently, using pre release oversampling, early noise tuning, and unique processing steps that never made it into consumer firmware. Notes from Nokia imaging engineers confirm that early builds sometimes produced sharper, noisier, or more experimental photo profiles compared to retail firmware. Nokia jumped directly to 41 megapixels, a number so absurd for the time that most reviewers in 2012 thought it was a typo. This was the moment the industry realized that Nokia’s imaging division was operating on an entirely different level.
Inside, this RM-807 prototype keeps the classic single SIM layout. One slot is used for the micro SIM card and the second slot is a microSD bay for storage expansion, not a second SIM. Together with the white shell, the absence of retail markings, and the Model 000 labeling, this configuration underlines its role as a lab platform rather than a sales unit. Fully working and preserved, it captures a moment in mobile history that can never be replicated, standing as one of the rarest forms of the last true Symbian flagship ever created.
📝 Reviews when released: Engadget 🔗
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Nokia 8800 Arte Saphire Prototype
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: S (Ultra Rare)
⭐ WOW Factor: The central key uses real sapphire crystal, extremely scratch-resistant.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9/10
🕵 Nokia Codename: Skira
⏱ Life timer: 83h | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2008 | 💰 Release Price: ~1500 €
📊 Units Sold: ~300k (final units)
📰 Why this phone matters: Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte (RM-461) – the China-market edition of Nokia’s luxury Arte line, featuring a genuine sapphire crystal navigation key, real brown leather back cover, stainless-steel frame and the elegant mocha-brown titanium finish specific to this variant. Built in 2008 with a 1GB internal memory layout and the premium Series 40 Arte interface, this model was engineered for the Asian GSM market and operates on regional 2G frequencies (900/1800), unlike the global 8800e models which use quad-band hardware. Part of Nokia’s final luxury slider family, the Sapphire Arte remains one of the most refined and collectible 8800 variants ever produced📝 Reviews when released: Mobile Review 🔗
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Nokia N91 8GB Prototype B4.0: Made in USA | Unreleased white white Camera Cover and silver keypad
Quick View💎 Rarity Index: X (Mystical Prototype)
⭐ WOW Factor: The first ever phone encompassing a 8 GB internal hard drive allowing storage for 3.000 songs (the 8 GB revision came later), Tthe first Nokia phone to run on Symbian 9.1.
👁 Evaluation in my collection: Great – 9.5/10
🕵 Nokia Codename: Thunder
⏱ Life timer: 0h | 📦 Boxed: NO
📅 Release Year: 2007 | 💰 Release Price: ~700 $
📊 Units Sold: ~400k (final units)
📰 Why this phone matters: Nokia N91 8GB – RM-43 – Prototype B4.0 – Made in USA – Unique White Camera CoverThis is a highly significant Nokia N91 8GB engineering prototype, built during Nokia’s internal development cycle and never intended for commercial release. The label identifies it as PROTO B4.0, a late-stage pre-production unit, but the hardware reveals something even more remarkable: a white camera cover, a part that was never used in production N91 or N91 8GB units.
All retail models featured a dark grey/black camera bezel, but this prototype houses a white pre-final CMF component – a rare internal test part used before Nokia approved the final color and material selection. Early tooling marks, alternate finishing, and non-standard coloration make this one of the only known N91 prototypes with this configuration.
Unlike mass-produced units manufactured in Finland or Germany, this device also carries the exceptionally rare “Made in USA” marking, confirming its role as a high-level engineering sample assembled for internal testing and hardware validation. The model field reads “XXXX”, and multiple internal codes differ from final production, reinforcing its early-preproduction status.
As the world’s first smartphone with an integrated 8GB micro-hard-drive, the N91 was born from bold experimentation – and this prototype embodies exactly that phase of innovation. With its unique white camera cover, U.S.-assembled chassis, RM-43 pre-production hardware, and B4.0 revision status, this unit stands as a near-one-of-a-kind artifact from Nokia’s golden age.
📝 Reviews when released: Mobile Review 🔗