Two Decades of Apple Evolution on Display

DUBAI — In a striking display of brand loyalty, a Dubai-based tech enthusiast turned a routine product pickup into a historical retrospective. Mohammed Shakaa, a long-time collector originally from Karachi, arrived at a local Apple Store carrying an impressive archive of 53 legacy iPhones spanning nearly twenty years of technological evolution.

Invited by store staff who caught wind of his remarkable assemblage, Shakaa brought devices ranging from the first-generation iPhone to the recently released iPhone 18 Pro Max. The collection features various color iterations of iconic models, meticulously maintained and typically displayed in his home.

"iPhone collection is my hobby, and it is also a challenge for me," Shakaa said. "I have almost the whole iPhone collection, from the first generation until the latest models. In some variants, I have one or two phones in different colors."

The Anticipation of the Foldable Era

While Shakaa owns devices from other major manufacturers such as Motorola and Samsung, his primary allegiance remains firmly with Apple. His visit to the retail outlet was not merely to exhibit his museum-grade archive, but to collect his pre-ordered units of Apple's highly anticipated foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo.

According to the collector, his fascination stems from tracking incremental engineering shifts over the decades. "With every generation, you see something changing: the camera, touch, battery, operating system and many other things. I have experienced those changes over the years, and that is why I love it," he noted.

Shakaa revealed that he had followed rumors surrounding Apple's entry into the foldable market for over three years. Securing the device upon release marked a personal triumph, completing a three-year streak of being among the first customers in line for major product rollouts in the region.

A Global Ambition

Beyond his local recognition, Shakaa harbors aspirations on an international scale. He hopes to eventually catch the attention of Apple executives and secure an invitation to a future keynote launch event in California.

"I want to represent myself and show them how far my craze for these phones has gone," Shakaa said, reflecting on a two-decade hobby that has transformed from a personal pastime into a profound public statement of technological dedication.