Wireless carriers still own iPhone market despite Apple’s retail push

Apple built a global retail empire to sell iPhone, but most Americans still buy their devices from mobile carriers.

Smartphone wirelessly charging on a wooden pad, with a partially charged battery icon displayed, placed on a white surface against a brick wall background.

iPhone 16e

The company’s relationship with carriers has been complicated from the beginning. When the iPhone launched in 2007, AT&T was the only option.

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile still handle the majority of iPhone sales, and their influence has only grown. A report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) shows that between July 2024 and June 2025, carriers accounted for more than three-quarters of U.S. iPhone sales.

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