Skip to main content

Chinese teen sells kidney for an iPad 2

zheng scarIn a true show of brand loyalty, a 17-year-old Chinese teenager sold his kidney in order to buy an iPad 2. Shanghai Daily reports that Anhui Province Zheng was able to net 20,000 ($3,084.45) for the organ but now as his health is worsening, he is regretting the decision. “I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it. A broker contacted me on the Internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan.”

Zheng sold the kidney in late April. The surgery, as it turns out, was performed at a hospital that did not meet the qualifications for organ transplants. After Zheng returned home with his new Apple electronics (reported to also include an iPhone – we’re uncertain whether this is a typo or Zheng simply stocked up on his iOS devices), his mother demanded to know where they come from. After she learned of their origin, she reported the matter to the police. The hospital is claiming to know nothing about the surgery.

The story was originally reported by SZTV news channel. In the video, Zheng reveals his large scar, and it appears that his family is very emotional discussing the situation. Apple fanboys are known to be devoted to what can be considered ridiculous, zealot-like lengths, but this type of iOS idolatry puts them all to shame. Take a look at the original TV broadcast below, reported entirely in Chinese.

Editors' Recommendations

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
The new iPad Pro is here, and it looks absolutely ridiculous
Official photo of the 2024 iPad Pro.

Apple announced the new iPad Pro series, which seems like the biggest upgrade to an iPad in years, at its Let Loose event on May 7. It brings an all-new processor, design, and display. The new iPad Pros still come in two sizes — 13 inches and 11 inches — and they now carry the "thinnest Apple product ever made" badge. It's a big achievement, considering Apple is dubbing the tablets' M4 processor as a "PC chip." In short, it's a bit more impressive than today's iPad Air news.

The new iPad Pros feature an OLED display for per-pixel brightness precision and greater contrast. It also allows for better immersion in content consumption. The displays can reach 1,000 nits of sustained brightness and 1,600 nits of peak brightness for supported HDR content.

Read more
Best iPad deals: Save on iPad Air, iPad Pro, iPad Mini
iPad Pro 2020 Screen.

For years the Apple iPad has been setting the standard for the best tablets, and despite its more premium nature, you can generally find some great iPad deals among the best tablet deals. That’s certainly the case right now, as there are a lot of iPad deals to shop. And while many of the best Apple deals include fan favorites like iPhone 15 deals, MacBook deals, and even AirPods deals, the current iPad deals have a lot to choose from. We’ve rounded up all of the best iPad deals worth shopping right now. Reading onward you’ll find discounts on everything from budget iPads to recent releases, as well as some some savings on iPad accessories.
Apple iPad 10.2 (9th Gen) 64GB Wi-Fi -- $249, was $329

Apple's A13 Bionic chip is no M1 or M2, but it still offers 64-bit architecture and neural engine support for excellent performance. In other words, this 10.2-inch iPad is incredible value. It has a 10.2-inch Retina display, 64GB of storage, supports Touch ID and Apple Pencil (1st Gen), and it's size, plus all-day battery life make it an excellent choice for anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle.

Read more
How to watch Apple’s big iPad event on May 7
iPad Air 5 back in hand.

After what seems like forever, Apple is finally holding an iPad-focused press event. The "Let Loose" event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7.

The online-only event is expected to reveal new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, as well as tablet accessories, including a new Apple Pencil. Here's more about the event and how to watch it.
How to watch Apple's May 7 event
Apple Event - May 7

Read more