Apple's iPhone Easily Named 'Best-Selling Tech Product of 2017'

iphone x vs iphone 8 and 8 plusThe iPhone has been named the "best-selling tech product of 2017" by analyst Daniel Ives of GBH Insights (via USA Today).

Apple's smartphone achieved the same ranking in 2016, and Ives said that the company will sell a total of 223 million iPhones in 2017, increasing from 211 million sold in 2016.

The iPhone was followed by Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 (33 million), Amazon Echo Dot (24 million), Apple Watch (20 million), and Nintendo Switch (15 million).

The rankings include all models of iPhone grouped together, explaining why the gap is so large between Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy S8 and Note 8.

But all in all, Apple sold more iPhones total, although less than the peak year of 2015, when it moved 230 million units. (That was the year of the iPhone 6, a redesign that brought a bigger iPhone to consumers for the first time and enthralled the public.)

Ives thinks Apple will have an even bigger 2018, with a spring update to its compact SE iPhone and more new phones in the fall. Out of the billion-plus consumer base of the iPhone, "350 million of them will upgrade next year," says Ives.

In the fourth spot, Ives described Apple Watch as a product that's now "found its niche" in the wearables market, thanks to the LTE Series 3 update that makes it less reliant on the iPhone. The analyst also cited ongoing discounts for older models, improved battery life on the Series 3, and Apple's pivot away from marketing the Apple Watch as a fashion accessory to one mainly used for fitness and working out.

Earlier this week, data shared by mobile analytics firm Flurry described the iPhone and iPad as the most popular items gifted around the world for the holidays. Flurry looked at device activations from December 19 to December 25 and noted that 44 percent of new device activations were for Apple products, with the iPhone 7 leading the pack at 15.1 percent of Apple product activations. For the newer models, the iPhone X was at 14.7 percent while the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus sat at 8.1 and 8.7 percent, respectively.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Top Rated Comments

OldSchoolMacGuy Avatar
96 months ago
But according to MacRumors members, no one bought the 8 because they all were waiting for the X and then no one bought the X because it was too expensive. I thought the iPhone was a failure.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Doc Evils Avatar
96 months ago
This doesn't make sense.

If you grouping all the iPhone family, why don't you group all the Samsung Galaxy family too?
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
96 months ago
My prediction for best selling tech product of 2018 is the $29 iPhone battery. :D
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Baymowe335 Avatar
96 months ago
Unbelievable. It’s unbelievable it sold so well. First, you have the iPhone X with its ugly notch and lack of home button. Then you have the iPhone 8 with the same design as the iPhone 7, which has the same design as the iPhone 6s, which has the same design as the iPhone 6.

Both product names—iPhone X and iPhone 8—are blatant lies to customers. There was no iPhone 9 and the iPhone 8 is really an iPhone 7s.

(The iPhone 7 name was a lie as it was really an iPhone 6ss. Therefore, the iPhone 8 is really an iPhone 6sss.)

It’s amazing that Apple can be so lazy with their industrial design and hardware engineering and still be not only named the best-selling tech product of 2017, but “easily” named the best selling tech product of 2017. It’s a shame that there are no consequences for Apple’s lazy actions.
You say all this nonsense like it's fact. The iPhone X has good hardware.

* The best mobile silicon in the industry (fact).
* The cameras are phenomenal (best still camera on the market).
* The OLED screen was rated the best screen in the industry.

You may not like the design, but a lot of people do. FaceID has some interesting and cool tech that works.

Ever use an iPhone X? The home button now feels like 1996.

200M+ people aren't wrong. MANY people just like iOS more than Android.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DVNIEL Avatar
96 months ago
Yep. Another year in this toxic relationship of ours. Trapped in this lovely garden of iMessage and W1 chips.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fel10 Avatar
96 months ago
Good to see Nintendo doing so well again after the disaster the WiiU was and everyone saying how they should go third party and how doomed they are.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)