Despite Apple’s strong presence in the gadget market, the tech giant has yet to surpass the all-time sales record for mobile phones, which is firmly held by Nokia’s iconic feature phones.
The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus represent Apple’s best-selling smartphones, with a remarkable total of 224 million units sold, largely due to their introduction of larger screens. However, in the overall mobile phone rankings, these models only rank third.
Nokia 1110 (photo: wikimedia)
Nokia continues to dominate the top two spots:
- Nokia 1100 (launched in 2003) – 250 million units sold;
- Nokia 1110 (launched in 2005) – 248 million units sold.
The success of the Nokia 1100 and 1110 can be attributed to their affordability. While competitors like the Motorola Razr V3 were priced at $449, Nokia offered its models at a range of $78 to $100, making them particularly appealing in emerging markets.
Reliability, long battery life, and low cost helped establish Nokia as a household name.
Nokia 1100 (photo: wikimedia)
Experts suggest that records set by Nokia are unlikely to be broken in the future for several reasons. First, the current market is characterized by intense competition. As of April 2026, Apple and Samsung hold nearly equal market shares of around 21% each. Additionally, brands like Xiaomi and Huawei have gained significant traction, further fragmenting consumer attention across numerous options.
Second, consumer behavior has evolved. Today, users tend to keep their smartphones for much longer periods than before. In the early 2000s, replacing a phone was a common occurrence, but now, upgrade cycles have extended to several years. These factors diminish the likelihood of any iPhone or Galaxy model reaching the quarter-billion sales mark.
Nokia's feature phones, particularly the Nokia 1100 and 1110, continue to lead in all-time sales, far surpassing Apple's best-selling iPhone models. The market's competitive landscape and changing consumer habits suggest that these records may remain unbroken.