TechCapsules

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

A Bonhams auction in September 2026 sold the “Hatfield” Apple I—Apple’s first computer, signed by co‑founder Steve Wozniak and accompanied by a letter from Steve Jobs—for a record $1.15 million, the highest price ever achieved for the model. The unit, originally purchased by Fred Hatfield in 1976 for $666.60, had previously fetched $666,150 at a 2013 Breker auction and has become one of the most coveted items in computing history. The 28‑minute bidding war involved only two collectors, underscoring the machine’s rarity. The sale coincided with Apple’s 50th anniversary, prompting Bonhams director Ian Ehling to call the result “exceptional” and a testament to the Apple I’s enduring appeal. Similar Wozniak‑signed Apple I machines have sold for $340,100 and $475,000 in recent years, reflecting a decade‑long surge in collector demand.