Technology
Ranked: The 15 Best-Selling Mobile Phones of All Time
Ranked: The Best-Selling Mobile Phones of All Time
In 2021, the world had 7.1 billion mobile phone users, roughly 90% of the global population. The mobile phone is now one of humanity’s most ubiquitous pieces of technology, and these sleek modern devices are a far cry from their hefty, brick-like predecessors.
But what are the most sold mobile phones of all time?
Using data from Wikipedia, Yahoo Finance, and tech analyst firm Omdia, we chart out the sales of the mobile phones that have enjoyed unmitigated success.
The Most Sold Mobile Phones of All Time
Heading the list of most sold phones ever is the much-beloved Nokia 1100, recording more than 250 million sales in six years before being discontinued in 2009.
Despite existing at the same time as the first mass-market smartphones (the Nokia E-series and then the iPhone), the 1100s’ price, focus on basic functionality, and pocket size made it a favorite in developing countries.
At second place, another variant of the same line, the Nokia 1110, sold 248 million units.
Rank | Mobile Phone | All-Time Sales |
---|---|---|
1 | Nokia 1100 | 250M |
2 | Nokia 1110 | 248M |
3 | iPhone 6/6 Plus | 222M |
4 | Nokia 105 Series | 200M |
5 | iPhone 6S/6S Plus | 174M |
6 | iPhone 5s | 165M |
7 | Nokia 3210 | 161M |
8 | iPhone 7/7 Plus | 160M |
9 | iPhone 11/11 Pro/ 11 Pro Max | 159M |
10 | iPhone XR/ XS/XS Max | 151M |
11T | Nokia 6600 | 150M |
11T | Nokia 1200 | 150M |
11T | Nokia 5230 | 150M |
11T | Samsung E1100 | 150M |
15 | iPhone 5 | 146M |
16 | Nokia 2600/ 2610/2626/2630 | 135M |
17T | Motorola RAZR V3 | 130M |
17T | Nokia 1600/ 1650/1661 | 130M |
19 | Nokia 3310 | 126M |
20 | iPhone 8/8 Plus | 125M |
Ranked third is the iPhone 6 and 6 plus, with a combined 222 million units. Their 4.7 and 5.5-inch screens ushered in the era of large screen smartphones, and they remain Apple’s best-selling iPhones and the best-selling smartphones of all time. In fact, the iPhone 6 was so popular it was re-released in 2017 at a mid-range price level.
The next 17 ranks of the most sold phones are split between Nokias and iPhones, with only the Samsung E1100 (ranked 11th) and and the Motorola Razr V3 (ranked 17th) managing to break the duopoly.
Of course, Nokia and Apple have had very different fortunes in the last decade.
After riding telecom market deregulation, first in Europe, and then in Asia, Nokia failed the transition to smartphones and quickly lost ground to Apple, Google and Samsung.
Microsoft purchased Nokia’s mobile phone business in 2014 to boost their own Windows Phone, but when that failed, Nokia’s phone business was once again sold to HMD Global. Today, HMD Global still makes Nokia phones (including revamps of earlier models) which run on Android OS.
The Modern Mobile Phone Rivalry: Apple vs. Samsung
It’s hard to believe how quickly Apple’s core business has changed from personal computing to mobile phones.
In 2009 iPhone sales contributed about 25% to the company’s revenues. By 2023, half of Apple’s $383 billion revenue came from their phones.
The iPhone routinely dominates the top 10 best-selling phones every year, as evidenced from research by tech analysts Omdia.
2022 Best Sellers | 2022 Sales | 2023 Best Sellers | 2023 Sales |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone 13 | 55M | iPhone 14 Pro Max | 31M |
Galaxy A13 | 35M | iPhone 14 | 26M |
iPhone 13 Pro Max | 29M | iPhone 14 Pro | 24M |
iPhone 14 Pro Max | 23M | iPhone 13 | 22M |
iPhone 11 | 21M | Galaxy A14 | 20M |
iPhone 13 Pro | 19M | Galaxy A14 5G | 14M |
iPhone 14 Pro | 18M | Galaxy A54 5G | 14M |
Galaxy A03 Core | 18M | Galaxy S23 Ultra | 13M |
iPhone 14 | 17M | Galaxy A04e | 11M |
Galaxy A03 | 16M | Redmi 12C | 11M |
Source: Data shared by Omdia. Note: 2023 numbers are current up to Q3, 2023.
However, Korean electronics behemoth Samsung’s sales figures aren’t exactly lackluster either. And while the two companies’ business models differ quite a bit, their flagship devices are routinely put up against each other: Samsung winning on battery life and mid and lower-range options, and Apple winning on optimization and security. Both brands have stellar cameras.
And while Apple rules the U.S. smartphone market (52% market share), Samsung edges them out globally with a 22% market share, compared to Apple’s 19%.
Technology
Charting the Next Generation of Internet
In this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with MSCI to explore the potential of satellite internet as the next generation of internet innovation.
Could Tomorrow’s Internet be Streamed from Space?
In 2023, 2.6 billion people could not access the internet. Today, companies worldwide are looking to innovative technology to ensure more people are online at the speed of today’s technology.
Could satellite internet provide the solution?
In collaboration with MSCI, we embarked on a journey to explore whether tomorrow’s internet could be streamed from space.
Satellite Internet’s Potential Customer Base
Millions of people live in rural communities or mobile homes, and many spend much of their lives at sea or have no fixed abode. So, they cannot access the internet simply because the technology is unavailable.
Satellite internet gives these communities access to the internet without requiring a fixed location. Consequently, the volume of people who could get online using satellite internet is significant:
Area | Potential Subscribers |
---|---|
Households Without Internet Access | 600,000,000 |
RVs | 11,000,000 |
Recreational Boats | 8,500,000 |
Ships | 100,000 |
Commercial Aircraft | 25,000 |
Advances in Satellite Technology
Satellite internet is not a new concept. However, it has only recently been that roadblocks around cost and long turnaround times have been overcome.
NASA’s space shuttle, until it was retired in 2011, was the only reusable means of transporting crew and cargo into orbit. It cost over $1.5 billion and took an average of 252 days to launch and refurbish.
In stark contrast, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 can now launch objects into orbit and maintain them at a fraction of the time and cost, less than 1% of the space shuttle’s cost.
Average Rocket Turnaround Time | Average Launch/Refurbishment Cost | |
---|---|---|
Falcon 9* | 21 days | < $1,000,000 |
Space Shuttle | 252 days | $1,500,000,000 (approximately) |
Satellites are now deployed 300 miles in low Earth orbit (LEO) rather than 22,000 miles above Earth in Geostationary Orbit (GEO), previously the typical satellite deployment altitude.
What this means for the consumer is that satellite internet streamed from LEO has a latency of 40 ms, which is an optimal internet connection. Especially when compared to the 700 ms stream latency experienced with satellite internet streamed from GEO.
What Would it Take to Build a Satellite Internet?
SpaceX, the private company that operates Starlink, currently has 4,500 satellites. However, the company believes it will require 10 times this number to provide comprehensive satellite internet coverage.
Charting the number of active satellites reveals that, despite the increasing number of active satellites, many more must be launched to create a comprehensive satellite internet.
Year | Number of Active Satellites |
---|---|
2022 | 6,905 |
2021 | 4,800 |
2020 | 3,256 |
2019 | 2,272 |
2018 | 2,027 |
2017 | 1,778 |
2016 | 1,462 |
2015 | 1,364 |
2014 | 1,262 |
2013 | 1,187 |
Next-Generation Internet Innovation
Innovation is at the heart of the internet’s next generation, and the MSCI Next Generation Innovation Index exposes investors to companies that can take advantage of potentially disruptive technologies like satellite internet.
You can gain exposure to companies advancing access to the internet with four indexes:
- MSCI ACWI IMI Next Generation Internet Innovation Index
- MSCI World IMI Next Generation Internet Innovation 30 Index
- MSCI China All Shares IMI Next Generation Internet Innovation Index
- MSCI China A Onshore IMI Next Generation Internet Innovation Index
MSCI thematic indexes are objective, rules-based, and regularly updated to focus on specific emerging trends that could evolve.
Click here to explore the MSCI thematic indexes
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