Apple iPhone XR outsold all iPhone models in the U.S. during Q4 2018

Even though the Apple iPhone XR was released weeks after the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were launched, most analysts expected the more affordable iPhone XR to outsell the other two 2018 models. The $250 difference in the starting price between the iPhone XR and iPhone XS, and the $350 difference with the iPhone XS Max were the biggest reasons for this expectation.

According to a new report released today by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), it turns out that as far as the U.S. is concerned, the analysts' forecasts were right on. For the calendar fourth quarter of last year, CIRP found that the iPhone XR was responsible for 39% of stateside iPhone sales even though the phone was not released until October 26th, 2018. The iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max combined to make up 26% of fourth quarter iPhone sales in the U.S., according to CIRP.

The iPhone XR's 39% share was the best share for a single new for a new iPhone model since 2016's iPhone 7. As for the remaining two units, CIRP says that the iPhone XS Max, at 6.4-inches the largest screened iPhone in history, outsold the iPhone XS by a 2 to 1 margin. All three 2018 iPhones made up 65% of iOS handset purchases in the U.S. during the quarter. The 2017 new models (iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X) accounted for 61% of sales during the same period in 2017.

CIRP estimated that the Average Selling Price of iPhone units rung up for the three month period was $800. It based this estimate on the increase in the number of iPhone buyers who paid up for a unit with more than the basic amount of storage on the phone.

The CIRP data was compiled from a survey of 500 people who purchased an Apple device during the fourth quarter of 2018.