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Apple announced another significant milestone in its latest quarterly results for the third fiscal quarter of 2025: It shipped its three billionth iPhone since its launch in 2007. CEO Tim Cook mentioned the figure during a conference call with analysts. Apple also once again exceeded analysts' expectations for revenue, earnings per share, and iPhone sales.
Since its launch, the iPhone has been considered the centerpiece of Apple's portfolio. It has not only transformed the smartphone market but also digitized large parts of everyday life. For years, the iPhone was the company's most important revenue segment. Now, the new figure once again underscores the relevance of this product—even though Apple hasn't actually published specific unit sales figures for years.
Three billion devices since 2007
According to Tim Cook, Apple recently shipped its three billionth iPhone. The number itself was announced without much fanfare during the company's third-quarter 2025 earnings presentation. It's still impressive—and an indication of how far Apple's reach has grown.
- By comparison, the first billion iPhones were sold in July 2016 – nine years after the launch of the first iPhone in 2007. At the time, Cook described the iPhone as "one of the most important, world-changing, and successful products in history." The exact date of the two-billionth iPhone sold is not publicly documented. However, analyst estimates suggest that this point was reached around September 2021.
With its third billion sales in less than four years, Apple demonstrates that the iPhone remains in strong demand. Despite growing competition and a generally mature smartphone market, the company is successfully launching new device generations and encouraging existing users to upgrade.
Sales figures no longer officially communicated
Since November 2018, Apple has stopped publishing specific sales figures for individual hardware products. According to CFO Luca Maestri at the time, the number of units sold in a quarter is not a reliable indicator of the company's business situation. Nevertheless, reaching the three billion unit mark provides a clear indication of the scale of the business. The latest quarterly report shows that Apple continues to perform strongly. Revenue and earnings per share exceeded expectations. The iPhone division also saw further growth – boosted in part by sales of the new iPhone generation and strong user brand loyalty.
Significance for Apple
The iPhone remains Apple's core product – both commercially and strategically. It forms the heart of the entire Apple ecosystem. From iOS to iCloud to Apple Pay, numerous services are directly linked to the iPhone. This high level of integration ensures stable revenues and builds long-term user loyalty. Communication about this milestone was reserved, which is typical for Apple. Nevertheless, the figure demonstrates that the company can continue to grow despite a stagnating global smartphone market – primarily through a solid ecosystem, continuous technical improvements, and strong customer loyalty.
Three billion iPhones – a symbol of long-term success
Apple has reached another significant milestone in its corporate history by shipping three billion iPhones. This figure underscores not only the iPhone's continued relevance but also the company's strategic strength. Despite cautious communication and the lack of day-to-day release of unit sales figures, the iPhone remains the most important growth driver—and a symbol of Apple's long-term success. (Image: Shutterstock / Sergey Causelove)
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