Nigerian influencer, Papaya Ex, has sparked online buzz after revealing she flew from Nigeria to Dubai solely to purchase the new iPhone 17 Pro Max, which cost her a whopping ₦4.5 million.
The content creator shared her excitement and disbelief on social media, questioning whether she was “crazy or living her best life.”
Papaya explained that her decision to buy directly from an Apple store was influenced by a previous bad experience purchasing a refurbished phone in Nigeria.
According to her, the earlier phone failed during a business trip to China, resulting in data loss and financial loss.
“I don’t blame myself at all,” she wrote. “Once beaten, twice shy. Since then, if it’s not from an Apple store, count me out.”
Sold-out frenzy and long queues in Dubai
Describing her buying experience, Papaya said she endured a three-hour wait at the Apple Store in Dubai, comparing the crowd to a visa renewal queue.
Despite the high price, she noted that Nigerians were still purchasing the phone effortlessly, calling it “pure water” on social media.
“People were buying like Apple was dashing them free akara,” she joked, adding that accessories like phone cases were sold out due to high demand. She eventually secured the 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max along with a screen guard, case, and Apple AirPods.
Questioning value and choices
In her post, Papaya playfully debated whether she made the right choice spending millions on a phone instead of buying a Toyota Camry. “Should I have gone for a Camry, or did I make the right move?” she asked her followers.
Her revelation has since sparked conversations about luxury spending, tech obsession, and authenticity in Nigeria’s gadget market.
Many applauded her for prioritising quality, while others questioned the necessity of flying abroad for a smartphone purchase.
Watch the video below…
Papaya shares how she flew all the way from Nigeria to Dubai just to buy the iPhone 17 pro max for ₦4.5 million. pic.twitter.com/jxsU6k1ZVM
— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) October 19, 2025