Which iPhone model is the most popular? A new report has the answer

For the past three years, Apple has released four new iPhones every fall: a regular model, the iPhone Plus, the iPhone Pro and the iPhone Pro Max. A new report from CIRP reveals which model is the most popular. And you might be surprised by the answer.

Since the iPhone 14 series in 2022, the regular iPhone has consistently been Apple’s best-selling phone, and it’s not even close.

The base iPhones 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, whose first model was the iPhone 14 Plus, accounts for just over 10% of iPhone sales on average.

The regular iPhone, like the base iPhone 16, consistently outsells the iPhone Pro Max by about two to one and even outperforms other models by a significant margin. 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 less than the iPhone Pro.

Another important factor in the higher sales of the regular iPhone is the variety of color options available. Regular models often come in brighter, more vibrant colors, while iPhone Pro models feature more muted tones. This appeal of vibrant colors could attract consumers looking for a more personalized device. Ultimately, many consumers don’t seem to see enough benefits to justify the higher price of the iPhone Pro models. Improved chips, additional camera features, and a sturdier build may not be enough to sway their decision.

Why does the larger iPhone Pro Max outperform the smaller iPhone Pro while the regular iPhone outperforms the larger iPhone Plus? Maybe it’s as simple as more and more iPhone Pro Max buyers are committed to buying the best iPhone in terms of features every year, including the largest display, and that happens to be this year’s iPhone Pro Max model.

Although the iPhone Plus is the best-selling model in the iPhone series, it outperforms the older iPhone mini, which Apple discontinued after launching the iPhone 12 mini in 2020. According to CIRP, the iPhone Plus has not only surpassed the market share of the iPhone mini, which it replaced, but it has also taken some share from the base model. For example, the iPhone 12 mini only captured 7% of the market share in 2022, compared to 46% for the regular iPhone. Two years later, the iPhone Plus has captured 13% of iPhone sales, compared to 42% for the regular iPhone.

Apple is expected to introduce an “iPhone Air” for the first time in 2025. This model is expected to replace the iPhone Plus and will be significantly different from the other models in the iPhone 17 series.

As the name suggests, the iPhone Air could be the thinnest iPhone ever. However, to achieve this sleek design, Apple may reportedly have to make some compromises. For example, the iPhone Air may have a less advanced camera system than the other models in the series. Similar to the iPhone 16 Plus, it may also have a less powerful chipset than the iPhone Pro models.

Only time will tell whether the iPhone Air will surpass the iPhone Plus’ market share, and if so, how much sales of the base model iPhone will contribute to that growth. It will also be interesting to see if customers who normally opt for the iPhone Pro Max instead opt for the thinnest iPhone ever.