Apple built a global retail empire to sell iPhone, but most Americans still buy their devices from mobile carriers.
iPhone 16e
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.