The ten best-selling smartphones in history, ranked by lifetime unit sales, from the iPhone 6 to the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Updated July 30, 202610 ranked3 sources
Quick answer: 1. Apple iPhone 6 / 6 Plus, 2. Apple iPhone 6S / 6S Plus, 3. Apple iPhone 5S, 4. Apple iPhone 7 / 7 Plus, 5. Apple iPhone 11 Series, 6. Apple iPhone XR / XS / XS Max, 7. Apple iPhone 5, 8. Apple iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, 9. Apple iPhone 12 Series, 10. Samsung Galaxy S4.
Smartphones have become the most essential personal device of the modern era, with over 6 billion units in use worldwide. Apple and Samsung dominate the list of best-selling smartphones, with Apple's iPhone lineup accounting for the vast majority of the top positions. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, released in 2014, remain the best-selling smartphones ever, thanks to their larger screen size that finally brought Apple into the phablet market.
This list ranks the top ten best-selling smartphones of all time by lifetime unit sales, based on data from Apple's financial reports, IDC, Counterpoint Research, and Wikipedia's compiled sales figures. The list includes only touchscreen smartphones — feature phones and early keyboard-based smartphones are excluded.
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Units sold (millions)
Units sold (millions)
Apple iPhone 6 / 6 Plus
222.4 million units
Apple iPhone 6S / 6S Plus
173.8 million units
Apple iPhone 5S
163.7 million units
Apple iPhone 7 / 7 Plus
156.7 million units
Apple iPhone 11 Series
156 million units
Apple iPhone XR / XS / XS Max
150.7 million units
Apple iPhone 5
143.4 million units
Apple iPhone 8 / 8 Plus
121.7 million units
Apple iPhone 12 Series
100 million units
Samsung Galaxy S4
80 million units
The ranking
1
Apple iPhone 6 / 6 Plus
Released in September 2014, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were Apple's first phones with screen sizes larger than 4 inches, addressing the most common criticism of earlier iPhones. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus sparked a massive upgrade cycle, selling 222 million units and becoming the best-selling smartphone model of all time. The design introduced a thinner aluminum body and rounded edges that would define Apple's aesthetic for years.
The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, released in September 2015, retained the same design as the iPhone 6 but introduced 3D Touch pressure-sensitive display technology and a significantly faster A9 processor. The 12-megapixel camera with 4K video recording was a major upgrade. Despite being an 'S' cycle refresh, the line sold over 173 million units, making it the second best-selling smartphone ever.
The iPhone 5S launched in September 2013 with a revolutionary feature: Touch ID, a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button that brought biometric security to the mainstream. It also introduced the Apple A7 chip, the first 64-bit processor in a smartphone. The gold color option proved incredibly popular in Asian markets. The iPhone 5S sold over 163 million units over its production lifecycle.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, released in September 2016, made the controversial decision to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack, pushing users toward wireless audio via AirPods. The iPhone 7 Plus introduced a dual-lens camera system with Portrait mode, setting a new standard for smartphone photography. The water-resistant design and Jet Black finish were major talking points. The line sold over 156 million units.
The iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max launched in September 2019 with significant camera improvements, including a Night Mode that dramatically improved low-light photography. The iPhone 11 was the base model, while the Pro models added a third telephoto lens. The A13 Bionic chip provided exceptional performance, and the battery life was the best of any iPhone at the time. The series sold over 156 million units combined.
Released in 2018, the iPhone XR became Apple's best-selling model of the year thanks to its more affordable $749 price point and six vibrant color options. The XR featured the same A12 Bionic chip and Face ID as the premium XS models but with an LCD display instead of OLED. The XS and XS Max offered the Super Retina OLED display and dual-camera system. Combined sales reached over 150 million units.
The iPhone 5, released in September 2012, was Apple's first iPhone with a 4-inch Retina display, a significant increase from the 3.5-inch screens of earlier models. It introduced the Lightning connector, replacing the 30-pin dock connector that had been used since 2003. The aluminum and glass design was thinner and lighter than its predecessor. The iPhone 5 sold over 143 million units during its lifetime.
The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus launched alongside the iPhone X in September 2017, offering a more traditional design with a home button and Touch ID at a lower price point. They introduced wireless charging via a glass back and the powerful A11 Bionic chip with a neural engine for machine learning tasks. The 8 Plus retained the dual-camera system. Combined sales reached over 121 million units.
The iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max launched in October 2020, marking Apple's first generation with 5G connectivity. The flat-edge design was a return to the iPhone 4/5 aesthetic, and the Pro models introduced a LiDAR scanner for improved AR and low-light photography. The iPhone 12 mini offered flagship features in a compact 5.4-inch form factor. The series sold over 100 million units.
The Samsung Galaxy S4, released in April 2013, was the best-selling Android smartphone of its era and the first serious challenger to Apple's iPhone dominance. With a 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, a 13-megapixel camera, and innovative software features like Smart Scroll and Air Gesture, the S4 was a technological showcase. It sold over 80 million units, making it Samsung's best-selling single model and the only non-Apple phone in the top ten.
Smartphones are ranked by estimated lifetime unit sales in millions, based on the most comprehensive data available from Apple earnings reports, industry analysts (IDC, Counterpoint, Gartner), and Wikipedia's compiled list of best-selling mobile phones. Figures represent worldwide sales to end customers (sell-through) or shipments (sell-in), depending on the source. Only smartphones with touchscreen interfaces are included, excluding feature phones and early keyboard smartphones. Data reflects the most recent available estimates as of 2026.
FAQ
What is the best-selling smartphone of all time?
The Apple iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, released in 2014, are the best-selling smartphones of all time with over 222 million units sold. Their larger screens triggered a massive upgrade cycle.
Why does Apple dominate the list of best-selling smartphones?
Apple dominates because it sells a limited number of models per year, concentrating sales volume on fewer devices. Samsung sells dozens of models annually, spreading its sales across many devices that individually sell fewer units.
Is the Nokia 1100 a smartphone?
No, the Nokia 1100 is a feature phone, not a smartphone. It sold over 250 million units, making it the best-selling mobile phone of all time, but it lacks the operating system and app ecosystem that defines a smartphone.