The iPhone 17 base model topped the global sales charts in the first quarter of 2026, outselling not only the competition but also Apple’s premium models. Around the world, and especially in key markets like China and the United States, the iPhone 17 series proved to be extremely popular with consumers. Apple made this clear when it announced its record-breaking March quarter results.
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Apple saw a 20% increase in iPhone sales in China in the first quarter of 2026, while iPhone revenue rose to $85.3 billion, up from $69.1 billion the previous year.
The driving force during the quarter, according to Counterpoint Research, was the base iPhone 17 model, with the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro following closely. The base iPhone 17 accounted for 6% of all new smartphones sold in the first quarter of 2026, making it the best-selling smartphone in the world.
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max dominated the smartphone upgrade wave in Q4 2025, the more affordable model is now at the top. This is typical for the iPhone. After new models are released in September, Apple enthusiasts get the latest and greatest premium models first. That demand wanes early next year, and sales trend shifts toward the more affordable models.
The base iPhone 17 led global smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2026. This demand cycle could be one of the factors pushing Apple to switch to a twice-yearly release cycle. The Pro models are expected in the fall starting with the iPhone 18 Pro, followed by the base models in spring 2027.
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In 2026, there's even less reason to go for the high-end iPhone models. The base iPhone 17 now has ProMotion and offers the same screen size as the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The two devices are now closer than ever, with the lack of a telephoto camera being practically the only thing differentiating the iPhone 17 from its Pro counterpart. For most smartphone buyers, the base iPhone 17 seems to offer a good balance of cost and features.
The iPhone Air, meanwhile, didn't even make the top 10 best-selling smartphones in the world for the first quarter of 2026. Apple's ultra-thin iPhone has been labeled a flop, although that's not proven to be true. According to Monday's report, however, it's not exactly a big success. Behind the iPhone 17 series is Samsung, with the Galaxy A07 5G and Galaxy A17 5G.
In sixth place is the base iPhone 16, followed by two more Samsung phones and the Xiaomi Redmi A5. Overall, it's not a big surprise that the base iPhone 17 is doing so well, given the iPhone market patterns of recent years. Apple enthusiasts and fans typically opt for the feature-packed, high-end models, while the base iPhone reaches its full potential later in the year.
However, the situation is expected to change in the first quarter of 2027.
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It has been said that the iPhone 18 will debut alongside the iPhone 18e in spring 2027. This means that it will likely not be available for purchase in the first quarter of 2027, which means that the quarter will be dominated by another model. Rumors claim that Apple's first foldable phone will be released either in September 2026 or perhaps even in December of the same year.
