Yes, it is official: Apple has sold more than 3 billion iPhones since the first model went on sale in 2007. Tim Cook shared the milestone on the company’s earnings call on July 31, 2025, during a quarter in which iPhone sales grew faster than expected. Here is what Apple actually said, how the iPhone got there, and what the lineup looks like in October 2026.
What Apple announced
The news came almost in passing. On the call for its fiscal third quarter of 2025 (the April to June period), Cook told analysts that Apple had recently sold its three billionth iPhone. There was no press release and no exact date for the sale itself, so treat the figure as a cumulative total since 2007 rather than a number tied to a specific day.
The timing was good for Apple. The company reported quarterly revenue of $94.0 billion, up 10 percent from a year earlier, and called it a June quarter record. iPhone revenue came in at about $44.6 billion, up from roughly $39.3 billion a year before, which works out to growth of around 13 percent. In other words, nearly half of everything Apple earned that quarter came from the iPhone.
Some analysts at the time argued that part of that demand was pulled forward by buyers worried that US tariffs would push phone prices higher. Apple did not say that, and it is impossible to separate that effect cleanly from normal demand, but it is worth keeping in mind when you read about a single strong quarter.
How fast the iPhone got to 3 billion
The pace of sales tells the real story. It took Apple about nine years to sell the first billion iPhones and roughly the same amount of time to sell the next two billion. A bigger installed base, more countries, more price points and faster upgrade cycles in the mid 2010s all helped.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| January 2007 | Steve Jobs introduces the original iPhone |
| June 2007 | First iPhone goes on sale in the US |
| July 2008 | iPhone 3G arrives together with the App Store |
| July 2016 | Apple announces its billionth iPhone sold |
| July 2025 | Tim Cook confirms more than 3 billion iPhones sold |
| September 2026 | Apple unveils the iPhone 18 Pro and its first foldable, iPhone Duo |
Keep in mind that 3 billion units sold is not the same as 3 billion people. Many owners have bought five, eight or more iPhones over the years, and plenty of older devices are retired or sitting in drawers. Apple tracks active devices separately, and that number is much smaller than the lifetime sales total.
The iPhone lineup in October 2026
A lot has changed since the milestone was announced. Apple launched the iPhone 17 family and the ultra thin iPhone Air in September 2025, later added the lower priced iPhone 17e, and on September 9, 2026 introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone Duo. Apple also raised US prices on several older models at that event. These are the starting prices listed in Apple’s US store right now:
From $699
From $799
From $899
From $1,099
From $1,199 (6.3 inch)
From $1,299 (6.9 inch)
From $1,999, foldable
The iPhone Duo is the headline product. It pairs a 7.6 inch folding display with a 5.4 inch outer screen and comes with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB of storage. Preorders open on October 16 and the phone goes on sale on October 23. The standard iPhone 18 was not part of the fall event and is expected next year.
Why the milestone matters
For Apple, 3 billion iPhones is more than a vanity number. Every phone sold feeds the services business: the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Pay and AppleCare. A huge base of devices is what lets Apple keep growing services revenue even in years when hardware sales are flat.
It also explains why Apple guards the upgrade cycle so carefully. Features such as Apple Intelligence need newer chips and more memory, which gives owners of older iPhones a reason to buy again. Whether the next billion arrives as fast as the last two depends heavily on how compelling those upgrades turn out to be.
FAQ
When did Apple reach 3 billion iPhones sold?
Apple said on July 31, 2025 that it had recently sold its three billionth iPhone, during its fiscal third quarter of 2025. It did not give an exact day.
How long did it take to sell the first billion?
About nine years. Apple announced the billionth iPhone in July 2016, roughly nine years after the original model launched in June 2007.
Which iPhone is the cheapest in October 2026?
The iPhone 17e, which starts at $699 in Apple’s US store.
Is the foldable iPhone available yet?
Not quite. The iPhone Duo opens for preorder on October 16, 2026 and arrives in stores on October 23, starting at $1,999.
The verdict
Three billion iPhones is a remarkable figure, and the fact that two thirds of them sold in the last nine years shows the product is far from slowing down. With a foldable model, two Pro phones and four more affordable options on sale, the lineup in late 2026 is the broadest Apple has ever offered.
Updated October 2026: rewritten with Apple’s confirmed sales milestones, the July 2025 earnings figures and the current US iPhone lineup and prices.
Featured photo: Daniel Romero on Unsplash.
About this article: GeekBlog covers U.S. technology news, AI, phones, smartwatches and gaming. Every story is written and checked under our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake or have a story tip? Contact our editors.
