If you bought an iPhone in the last three months, it’s possible it was the three billionth sold.

The brand announced this major sales milestone during its latest earnings call. During the quarter, “we shipped the 3 billionth iPhone since its launch in 2007,” said Suhasini Chandramouli, director of investor relations.

Samsung is thought to have hit the 3 billion mark last year. A mid-2024 report using IDC data said Samsung sold 2.93 billion phones between Q1 2014 and Q1 2024. However, that didn’t take into account sales of the first four generations of the Galaxy S series, or Samsung’s handsets sold before its Galaxy range began in 2010.

It also doesn’t include Samsung phones sold in the last 18 months. Samsung recently said the Galaxy Z Fold 7 had the highest number of preorders ever in the US for one of its Fold-branded phones, and it reports a 25% rise in preorders across these devices compared with the previous generation.

Nokia might have also met this target before Apple, but not with smartphones. The Nokia 1100 alone sold 250 million units worldwide, and the Nokia 1110 sold another 248 million. Nokia never released overall sales figures, so it’s unclear if the brand ever reached 3 billion.

We do know that Nokia sold its billionth handset in 2005. The brand continued until 2013, when it became part of Microsoft and then moved under the HMD Global brand, so it may have hit that 3 billion number without any fanfare.

If so, Samsung and Apple are the only two brands to top 3 billion in sales from smartphones alone. Apple also has far fewer devices than Samsung, which has had hundreds of variants, compared with the 47 models from Apple to date.

Apple marked the anniversary of its billionth phone sale in July 2016. It then took the brand nine years to gain another 2 billion shipments.

In Apple’s earnings report, CEO Tim Cook said the brand is in the process of “significantly” increasing its investment in AI. Amid a lackluster response to Apple Intelligence, the company is considering purchasing other AI companies to help it get ahead of its rivals.

Apple has faced sharp criticism in recent months, from weak AI features to controversial design decisions. However, it continues to dominate smartphone sales. CEO Tim Cook announced during the latest earnings call that Apple has now shipped 3 billion iPhones worldwide.

This number is staggering. But what’s even more surprising is the accelerating pace of iPhone sales. The iPhone launched in 2007. It took nine years to reach the 1 billion mark in 2016. Apple crossed 2 billion units in the following five years. Now, it has only taken four more years to add another billion.

This rapid growth shows iPhones remain the preferred choice, especially among younger users in markets like the United States. The trend looks set to continue, solidifying Apple’s hold on the premium smartphone market.

Concerns are growing about Apple’s heavy reliance on the iPhone. Even Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior executive, recently admitted,

“You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now.”

That’s a bold statement for a company whose biggest revenue still comes from selling phones. So far, Apple’s efforts to shift to new technologies have fallen short. Its early moves in AI development have drawn criticism, and mixed reactions greeted its recent product design changes.

CEO Tim Cook acknowledged this challenge during the earnings call.

He said Apple is exploring new ideas. However, he emphasized that upcoming technologies will complement phones, not replace them. Apple might reach 4 billion iPhones sold one day. But its ability to adapt will define whether it remains on top.

Apple has officially marked a major milestone, with more than 3 billion iPhones sold since the revolutionary device first debuted in 2007. The announcement was made by CEO Tim Cook during the company’s third-quarter earnings call, where Apple reported stronger-than-expected iPhone sales and robust overall revenue performance.

In the quarter ending June 2025, iPhone sales jumped by 13%, raking in $44.6 billion, up from the same period last year. The iPhone alone accounted for nearly half of Apple’s total revenue of $94 billion, reaffirming its status as the tech giant’s flagship product in both consumer demand and revenue generation.

While Apple celebrated this success, Cook also acknowledged emerging challenges ahead—most notably, a sharp increase in import tariffs. The company is preparing for a $1.1 billion hit in tariff costs during the upcoming September quarter, a steep rise from the $800 million paid last quarter. These costs are tied to revised import regulations under the Trump administration that are raising the cost of importing goods manufactured abroad.

To cushion the impact, Apple has already been shifting its manufacturing strategy. Cook noted that a significant portion of iPhones sold in the US are now assembled in India, a strategy that continues unchanged. The value of Apple’s products manufactured in India has surged by 60% over the past year, reaching $22 billion.

“Most iPhones sold in the US now come from India,” Cook confirmed, highlighting the success of the company’s geographic diversification efforts.

In China, a market where Apple has faced recent headwinds, the company saw a modest recovery. Revenue in the region climbed from $14.7 billion to $15.3 billion, offering some relief following sluggish performance in previous quarters.

Despite the earnings beat, Apple’s stock reaction was subdued. Shares rose just 2%, falling short of the significant gains seen by rivals like Microsoft and Meta—both of which continue to gain investor confidence with bold AI initiatives. Apple’s stock remains down about 15% for the year, as stakeholders look for a clearer roadmap in artificial intelligence.

During the call, analysts pressed Cook on Apple’s vision for AI and how emerging technologies might change the role of the iPhone in the future. Addressing this, Cook remarked, “I see the iPhone continuing to play a key role,” and added that rather than replacing the iPhone, future innovations will likely enhance its capabilities.

Some market analysts speculate that part of the recent sales spike could stem from customers rushing to purchase iPhones ahead of anticipated price hikes due to tariff changes. If true, it may signal a slowdown in demand in the coming quarter.

Still, with a solid quarter behind it and strategic moves in place, Apple is positioning itself to navigate the next wave of economic and technological shifts—even if the immediate road ahead is a bit more uncertain.

What to know

Apple has shipped its 3 billionth iPhone, according to new shipment data.

The milestone comes just 7 years after Apple reached 1 billion iPhones shipped in 2016.

The iPhone remains Apple’s most successful product, driving much of its revenue and global influence.

This achievement highlights the iPhone’s continued popularity and impact on the smartphone industry.

Apple has officially shipped its 3 billionth iPhone, marking a monumental moment in the company’s history and the evolution of mobile technology. This milestone was revealed through shipment data, underscoring just how deeply the iPhone has become embedded in daily life around the world.

It took Apple nearly a decade to ship its first billion iPhones, a milestone it celebrated in 2016. But the pace has only accelerated since then. In just seven years, Apple has managed to ship another two billion iPhones, reflecting the device’s enduring popularity and the company’s ability to consistently attract new users and retain loyal customers.

The iPhone’s journey began in 2007, when Steve Jobs introduced the original model as a revolutionary combination of a phone, an iPod, and an internet communicator. Since then, Apple has released dozens of models, each bringing new features, improved cameras, and faster processors. The iPhone has not only shaped the smartphone industry but has also influenced how people communicate, work, and consume media.

Apple’s iPhone sales have been a major driver of the company’s financial success. The device consistently accounts for a significant portion of Apple’s revenue, and its ecosystem of apps and services has helped the company build a loyal customer base. Even as global smartphone sales have slowed in recent years, Apple has managed to maintain strong demand for its flagship product, thanks to regular updates and a focus on premium features.

Reaching the 3 billion mark is more than just a number. It’s a testament to the iPhone’s global reach and its role in shaping the modern mobile experience. From the original iPhone to the latest models, Apple has continued to innovate and set trends that competitors often follow.

As Apple celebrates this achievement, the company shows no signs of slowing down. With new models and technologies on the horizon, the iPhone’s story is far from over. For now, the 3 billion milestone stands as a reminder of how one device can change the world.

The iPhone 16 lineup has proven to be one of the major successes, specifically for its integration of AI-powered tools, advanced photography features, and extended battery performance. The latest reports highlighted that in the third quarter that ended on June 28, 2025, the tech giant had sold $44.58 billion worth of iPhones. This figure shows a steep 13% rise from the same time last year.

Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has announced the report, confirming that the company has touched its 3 billion sales milestone this year. Per him, “Today Apple is proud to report a June quarter revenue record with double-digit growth in iPhone, Mac, and Services and growth around the world, in every geographic segment.” Notably, this US tech giant touched the 1 billion sales milestone in 2016 and the 2 billion milestone in 2021.

The US tech giant has also witnessed a surge in downloads and developer adoption of iOS 26 beta for its deeper customization and robust security upgrades that have quickly set its standard in the premium smartphone market.

Its revenue from the global market has also witnessed a notable surge, especially in countries like India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, where Apple continues to expand its local manufacturing footprint. Even its sales in China have witnessed a little increase from $14.7 billion to $15.3 billion year-on-year, showing some relief after several challenging quarters.