For the past three years, Apple has released four new iPhones each fall – the regular model, iPhone Plus, iPhone Pro, and iPhone Pro Max – but a new report from CIRP reveals which models are the most popular. And the answer might surprise you. Since the iPhone 14 series in 2022, the regular iPhone has consistently been Apple’s best-selling phone.
The base models iPhone 14, 15, and 16 account for about 45% of annual iPhone sales. This is followed by the iPhone Pro Max, which accounts for about 25% of sales, and the iPhone Pro, which accounts for about 20%. The iPhone Plus, the first model of which was the iPhone 14 Plus, accounts for just over 10% of average iPhone sales.
The regular iPhone, as well as the base iPhone 16, consistently outsell the other models by about twice as much, and even more so. The main reason for this trend is undoubtedly price: the standard model is about $400 cheaper than the entry-level iPhone Pro Max and $200 cheaper than the iPhone Pro.
Another key factor in the strong sales of the regular iPhone is the variety of color options available. The regular models tend to have brighter, more vibrant colours, while the iPhone Pro models have more muted tones. The appeal of these vibrant colors may attract consumers looking for a more personal device. Finally, many consumers don’t seem to see enough benefits to justify the higher price of the iPhone Pro models. The improved chip, extra camera features, and more robust construction may not be enough to sway their decision.
Despite being the lowest-selling model in the iPhone series, the iPhone Plus outsold the older iPhone mini, which Apple discontinued after the launch of the iPhone 12 mini in 2020. According to CIRP, the iPhone Plus not only surpassed the market share of its successor, the iPhone mini, but also took some market share from the base model. In 2022, the iPhone 12 mini’s market share was only 7% compared to 46% for the regular iPhone. Two years later, the iPhone Plus captured 13% of iPhone sales, compared to 42% for the regular iPhone.
