Mobile phones these days are necessities. Just imagine how different our world would be without almost-instantaneous communications from anywhere in the world. There's a reason that letters and telegrams have gone out of style.

But how much money are you willing to spend on a new phone?

$500? $900? Maybe as much as $1500?

It depends, but one thing is for sure: despite being classified as necessities, mobile phones can still be quite pricey.

Have you ever wondered, though, what makes them so expensive? 

The Most Expensive Mobile Phone Ever Sold 

To fully understand how much money it really costs to make mobile phones, perhaps you could take a look at just how outrageously expensive they can get.

Case in point: The Le Million, from a luxury goods company based in Geneva, Switzerland, called Goldvish. 

According to Guinness World Records, the Le Million is the most expensive cell phone ever sold. Back in 2006, it sold for an insane €1 million (around $1.2 million), which, adjusted for inflation, would be $1.5 million in today's money. 

Why would it cost that much, you ask?

Well, according to Goldvish, they didn't really skimp on the materials in making it. The phone was covered in 18-carat white gold with accents made of 120-carats VVS-1 graded diamonds.

At the back, it had what looks like an actual crocodile skin accent, though this one couldn't be confirmed with what information was on the internet. See for yourself: 

It was a well-configured phone for 2006, which by modern standards won't be too amazing.

It wasn't a smartphone and only had 2 GB of internal storage, according to Mobiles.Maxabout.com. 

The Le Million was more or less something intended for people with more money than they know what to do with. It's not a normal thing to have, so let's go to something a bit more... down to Earth. 

Read also: Is Your Phone 5G Ready? Here's How to Know

How Much Does It Cost To Make Modern Smartphones? 

Apple has a reputation for selling not-so-affordable products, specifically their iPhones. But you'd actually be surprised at how much Apple really spends to make just one iPhone. 

Investopedia did this small cost breakdown of an iPhone 11 Pro Max, categorized by the main parts: 

• Screen: $66.50

• Triple camera: $73.50

• Battery: $10.50

• Processor, memory, models: $159

• Sensors, material, assembly, and other components $181

TOTAL: $490.50

But this is just the mobile phone itself, and it doesn't include the millions that Apple pours into research and development for the hardware. There's also the cost of labor.

Technically, Apple saves a few bucks by having their iPhones made in China, because the minimum wage for an iPhone worker there is a mere $3.15 an hour. 

Considering that the cheapest iPhone 11 Pro Max back in the day cost $1,099 (the most expensive 512 GB model was priced at $1,449), it puts a few things into perspective.

Do you really think you're getting a good deal whenever you upgrade smartphones every year? 

Apple is considered a premium company. Their brand alone has a lot of value, and in fact, much of what you pay whenever you buy an iPhone (or any Apple product, really) goes to paying for the chance to have the brand plastered on your device. 

At the end of the day, they don't cost nearly as much to make as what you're paying for them. It's going to be your decision whether or not paying that much for a necessity is worth it. 

Related: Top 5 Smartphones That Features the Headphone Jack in 2021: Samsung, Pixel, and MORE!

This article is owned by Tech Times 

Written by RJ Pierce