iPhone 4 and 3GS Rank as Best-Selling U.S. Smartphones

Research firm NPD today announced the release of its new Mobile Phone Track report for the second quarter of 2011, showing Android continuing to lead the U.S. smartphone market with 52% of new sales during the quarter. Apple's iPhone checked in with 29% of the market while Research in Motion's BlackBerry devices continued their free fall and garnered only 11% of the market.

iphone 3gs 4
SplatF pulls out one key detail from the full report, noting that not only is Apple's 14-month-old iPhone 4 continuing to lead the market in sales, but that the 8 GB iPhone 3GS takes the second spot in the rankings. The iPhone 3GS was introduced 26 months ago, and Apple kept the device around following last year's iPhone 4 introduction by dropping the capacity to 8 GB and offering it at a $99 price point for entry-level users. Pricing has since dropped to $49, with occasional deals bringing the price as low as free.

Here are the top five best-selling phones during Q2, via NPD’s Mobile Phone Track service:

1. Apple iPhone 4
2. Apple iPhone 3GS
3. HTC EVO 4G
4. HTC Inspire 4G
5. Samsung INTENSITYII

Apple has attempted to keep sales momentum for the iPhone 4 moving forward with the introduction of a CDMA version on Verizon and the much-delayed launch of a white version of the device earlier this year. But even as Apple has diverged from its usual annual cycle of iPhone releases by pushing the iPhone 5 out to September or October this year, the iPhone 4 and even the iPhone 3GS continue to top the charts in U.S. sales.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
Prime Day 25 Feature Warm Triad

The Best Prime Day Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Monday July 7, 2025 10:55 am PDT by
Amazon is back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront. With the event now underway, we're tracking numerous all-time low prices on Apple gear right now. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a...

Top Rated Comments

Small White Car Avatar
181 months ago
This should serve as a wakeup call to all the folks who claim Apple "needs to" or "must" include whatever their favorite piece of technology is. The fact that the 3GS outsells all those super-charged devices is amazing, yes, but not surprising when you examine people's actual needs and their decision making process.

The threads around here arguing over things like different types of screen technology are fun and all, but it just doesn't matter that much.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Constable Odo Avatar
181 months ago
This should serve as a wakeup call to all the folks who claim Apple "needs to" or "must" include whatever their favorite piece of technology is. The fact that the 3GS outsells all those super-charged devices is amazing, yes, but not surprising when you examine people's actual needs and their decision making process.

The threads around here arguing over things like different types of screen technology are fun and all, but it just doesn't matter that much.

The consumer market has always been consumer-driven, not tech-head-driven. Those tech-head jackasses are always claiming that consumers need this and that and they're not even close. Most consumers are happy to use the same devices for years as long as it works well for them. I would never want to run a business to keep tech-heads happy. They always want the latest crap no matter how problematic it might be or how high the costs are.

Tech-heads are always upset that the iPhone doesn't have the latest stuff. Apple's iPhone can't compete against Android smartphones that come out every few weeks using the most recent tech. The production volume is completely different for Apple. They need to plan for tens of millions of iPhones, not tens of thousands like most of these Android smartphone production runs use.

Consumers' average needs are most important in designing a product, not cutting-edge tech. Consumers need an overall well-working product more than some flashy but flaky device. Tech-heads probably comprise about 1% of the consumer population and hardly matter at all when it comes to sales.

Tech-heads are just too g-damn picky for consumer business needs. :mad:
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
linuxcooldude Avatar
181 months ago
Android continuing to lead the U.S. smartphone market with 52% of new sales during the quarter. Apple's iPhone checked in with 29% of the market

Android is not a smartphone, its an operating system. Show me an Android phone that is out selling the iphone. Tired of this inaccurate statement.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Santabean2000 Avatar
181 months ago
Staggering really. Old tech beating out on new... Must be hard for the others to stomach. And goes to show thatbpeople want the full package/walled garden ease and simplicity.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
*LTD* Avatar
181 months ago
well still only one source of iOS compared to everyone who wants the Android is split among multiple devices.
Which is why it's so impressive.


I will stand by the fact that I believe iPhone4 is massively over priced and 3GS is over priced as well.
You can stand by it and still be wrong.

Apple charges what the market will bear and what consumers are willing to pay.

If iPhone4 was any thing other than the iPhone at this point it would be $99 on contract at most but chances are it would be at the $50 price point and the 3GS would be free.
People are paying
But the iPhone 4 is the iPhone - with everything it offers and represents. It can't be anything other than that.

If you don't have an iPhone . . . you don't have an iPhone. We're seeing just how true that is.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Consultant Avatar
181 months ago
This should serve as a wakeup call to all the folks who claim Apple "needs to" or "must" include whatever their favorite piece of technology is. The fact that the 3GS outsells all those super-charged devices is amazing, yes, but not surprising when you examine people's actual needs and their decision making process.

The threads around here arguing over things like different types of screen technology are fun and all, but it just doesn't matter that much.

Well, Apple isn't going after the basement feature nerd market. ;)

Instead Apple customers knows that features =/= usability.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)