Apple Sales Statistics: The Journey of the iPhone

In 1976, Apple’s first computer barely sold a few hundred units. In the decades that followed, the company revolutionized computing and became a trillion-dollar entity. Somewhere along the way, the first iPhone was born.

The iPhone was an immediate success, but its happy story was interrupted in 2016 when sales declined for the first time since the smartphone was launched in 2007.

So, how’s Apple doing today? The following Apple sales statistics pull the curtain back on one of the world’s biggest companies.

Key Stats on Apple Sales for 2024 - Editor’s Choice

• Apple has sold more than 1.3 billion iPhones since 2007.
• Apple’s stock value has grown by more than 15,000% since 2001.
• In 2016, Apple’s net worth increased by 6%, primarily driven by growth in services, iPhones, and Mac.
• Apple’s annual revenue increased from $229 billion in 2017 to nearly $266 billion in 2018, a boost of 16%.
• Apple is worth more than $1.3 trillion as of December 2019.
• iPhone ranks third in the global smartphone market.
• The iPhone X alone generated an estimated 35% of global smartphone profits in 2017 and 2018.

Apple Market Share: In 3rd Place

Apple has a small market share of the smartphone industry but takes the vast majority of the profits. According to Apple sales statistics, the company nets 92% of the profits but accounts for only 20% of sales.

Despite fierce competition from Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Huawei and a decline in iPhone sales, Apple technology has managed to stay relevant. This is made possible by an evolving business model, product innovation, and diversification. The following Apple sales data reveals more about the tech giant’s place in the market.

In August 2018, Apple became the first American company to hit a $1 trillion market cap.

(CNBC)

During the same year, Apple recorded a net income of $59.5 billion.

(Apple)

Since 2001, Apple’s stock price has increased by 15,966%.

(Mediakix)

Current data shows that iPhone by year sales account for less than half of Apple’s revenue for the first time since 2012.

(9to5Mac)

Apple growth is increasingly fueled by products other than the iPhone:

(9toMac)

• Wearables: Up by 48%
• iPad: Up by 8%
• Mac: Up by 11%
• Services: Up by 13%

Data from the fourth quarter of 2019 shows that 20% of all smartphones sold globally were Apple products - more specifically iPhones.

(Statista)

Apple originally projected revenue of $63-$67 billion for the January-March 2020 period, mainly from iPhone 11 sales.

(9toMac)

A line of people waiting to buy an iPhone outside of the Apple Store in NYC. Image source: Rob DiCaterino / Wikimedia Commons

Apple Gross Sales Statistics: Is Apple Slowing Down?

Apple’s ecosystem is massive, and Apple stats reveal that the company has more than one billion users. So how many iPhones have been sold? In 2015, the tech giant sold a record $234 billion worth of iPhones. But a year later, annual sales fell to $216 billion.

There are a number of reasons for this decline, including saturation in the global smartphone market. In addition, a number of serious competitors appeared on the scene, including China’s Xiaomi and Huawei.

Today, these brands are Apple’s main competitors. Lastly, the cost of new iPhones skyrocketed. Shockingly, it appears that there’s a limit to what customers are willing to pay.

Declining Apple yearly revenue received a boost from growth in services and wearables, which helped the company rebound and regain some of the lost profits. This demonstrates Apple’s ability to reinvent itself and excite consumers. That’s good for Apple’s net worth and gross sales.

As of November 2018, Apple had sold $2.2 billion worth of iPhones.

(Lifewire)

On New Year’s Day 2018, App Store consumers generated $300 million in purchases.

(Apple)

Apple sold 8 million Apple smartwatches in the last quarter of 2017 alone.

(Fortune)

As of March 2018, Apple Podcasts hit a new milestone: 50 billion podcast episode downloads and streams.

(9toMac)

Apple sales numbers reveal that 2018 was the company’s most profitable year, generating $265.5 billion in revenue.

(Got Mac)

Apple generated more than $142 billion from iPhone sales in 2019 alone.

(Statista)

In 2019, Apple’s spending on original TV shows and movies spiked to over $6 billion.

(9toMac)

The number of iPhone users in the US is expected to surpass 110 million by 2021.

(Statista)

Shipments of Apple wearables reached 336.5 million units in 2019.

(IDC)

Apple iPhone sales data reveals that the company has sold 63 million units of the iPhone X, which is the priciest Apple device.

(Counterpoint Research)

Despite fewer iPhones being sold, the estimated total spend has remained constant at $6.3 billion between 2017-2019. This is due to rising prices of newer iPhone models.

(finder.com)

The Road Ahead: A Post-iPhone Future?

Apple is reportedly planning to introduce 5G network support and other significant upgrades to its next generation of iPhones. The company is hoping this will help boost Apple profits and serve as a quick fix for its drop in sales. In the meantime, Apple’s wearables, “hearables,” and a range of Apple streaming and book services will continue to carry the bulk of the load.

Apple CEO Tim Cook had big shoes to fill after Steve Jobs passed away. But many traditional Apple fans are asking whether Cook wants to sell prestige TV for the rest of his life or change the world with more than just fascinating Apple yearly revenue?

According to Cook, Apple is “rolling the dice” on some future Apple products. This might very well be a decisive moment that determines whether Apple remains a crucial part of our constantly evolving world or becomes obsolete. Apple has done it before. Can it deliver again? It’s a fair question.