Apple has officially shipped its three billionth iPhone, CEO Tim Cook revealed during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the tech giant, which introduced the first iPhone back in 2007. The company reached its one billionth iPhone milestone in 2016, followed by an estimated two billionth unit in 2021. Now, just four years later, Apple has added another billion to its tally.
Cook highlighted that the iPhone experienced double-digit growth during the third quarter, contributing to Apple’s $94 billion in revenue, a 10% increase year-over-year. According to Apple analyst Mark Gurman, a surge in iPhone sales this quarter may have been driven by consumer concerns over potential price hikes linked to tariffs introduced under former President Trump’s policies.
However, tariffs have already impacted Apple’s bottom line. Cook disclosed that tariffs cost the company $800 million in the quarter ending June and are projected to rise to $1.1 billion in the upcoming quarter ending September.
Apple is expected to unveil its next generation of iPhones in September, following its usual release pattern. Gurman previously reported that this lineup will include a new model called the iPhone 17 Air, designed to align with Apple’s “Air” branding across other product categories.
The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to feature:
- Ultra-thin design
- Single rear camera lens
- Basic A19 chip
- 6.6-inch display
- Apple’s in-house modem (first introduced in the iPhone 16e)
Pricing is expected to start around $900, approximately $100 more than the base iPhone 16, and comparable to the iPhone 16 Plus. In addition to celebrating the iPhone milestone, Cook announced that Apple is significantly increasing its investments in artificial intelligence. He hinted that the company may pursue acquisitions to accelerate its AI roadmap, though he did not specify any potential targets.
