Apple Ships 3 Billion iPhones as Q3 2025 Earnings Top Estimates

Apple’s Q3 2025 earnings are in, and the company has once again outperformed Wall Street expectations. The quarter delivered stronger-than-anticipated iPhone revenue, a new high for its Services business, and healthy earnings per share, even as Apple continues to navigate international tariffs and mounting regulatory pressure.

Apple Hits 3 Billion iPhones Shipped

During the earnings call, CEO Tim Cook confirmed a major milestone: Apple has officially shipped its three-billionth iPhone since the product first launched in 2007.

The figure underscores not just the iPhone’s scale but also its evolution into the cornerstone of Apple’s ecosystem, a product line that now anchors everything from services to accessories and continues to fuel the company’s growth.

From Billion One to Billion Three

Apple first crossed the 1 billion iPhones shipped mark back in 2016, just nine years after the original model debuted. At the time, Cook called it

One of the most important, world-changing, and successful products in history.

The company never disclosed when it passed the 2 billion milestone, but industry analysts estimate it occurred around September 2021. If that estimate holds, Apple reached its third billion in under four years, a faster climb that reflects accelerating global adoption.

Why Apple Shared the Number

Since Apple stopped reporting hardware unit sales in November 2018, any official milestone like this carries added weight. Back then, CFO Luca Maestri said that quarterly unit sales “are not representative of the underlying strength of our business.”

So when the CEO calls out a unit number during an earnings call, it signals more than just bragging rights; it gives investors and analysts a rare, concrete data point on iPhone momentum.

18 Years of iPhone Evolution

The iPhone’s journey spans nearly two decades of hardware and software shifts:

• 2007: Original iPhone launched with a 3.5-inch screen and multitouch interface.
• 2010: iPhone 4 introduced Retina Display and FaceTime.
• 2014: iPhone 6 series added larger displays, driving record sales.
• 2017: iPhone X marked the shift to OLED and Face ID.
• 2020: iPhone 12 brought 5G across the lineup.
• 2022: iPhone 14 Pro introduced Dynamic Island and Always-On Display.
• 2024: iPhone 16 lineup unveiled Apple Intelligence and a 48MP Fusion Camera.
• 2025: Apple reaches 3 billion iPhones shipped globally.

What Fuels the Next Billion?

Looking ahead, Apple appears to be betting that Apple Intelligence, its generative AI system, will be the main engine behind the next surge in iPhone sales. The company has increasingly framed AI as core to its future offerings, embedding it into iOS, hardware, and services.

Add to that persistent rumors of a foldable iPhone model in development. If Apple manages to ship such a device within the next few years, it could help the company hit 4 billion iPhones shipped as early as 2028.

Q3 2025 by the Numbers

Apple’s latest financials offer a clearer view of what’s powering its current growth:

• Revenue: $94 billion, up about 10% year over year and well ahead of ~$89B expectations.
• Earnings per Share: $1.57, beating forecasts of $1.42–$1.43 by roughly 12%.
• iPhone Revenue: $44.6 billion, up 13%, boosted in part by early demand before expected tariff hikes.
• Services Revenue: $27.4 billion, up 13%, marking a new all-time high.
• Tariff Impact: $800 million in Q3; Apple expects $1.1B in Q4 and is ramping up production shifts to India and Vietnam.

Looking Forward

Despite legal headwinds and rising trade costs, Apple is entering its next fiscal quarter with momentum. The milestone of 3 billion iPhones shipped, combined with a strong Q3 and growing focus on AI and new form factors like the rumored iPhone Fold, points to a company still expanding its playbook.

Whether Apple Intelligence and a foldable iPhone can meaningfully accelerate sales remains to be seen. Would either push you to upgrade? Let us know in the comments.