The all-time best-selling phone isn’t an iPhone or a Samsung device. It’s the iconic Nokia 1100. According to BGR, the 2003 model sold roughly 250 million units, a record that still stands among mobile devices. The runner-up is also a Nokia: the 1110, launched in 2005, with about 248 million units sold. Only in third place are the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, with combined sales of 224 million devices.
The article attributes the Nokia 1100’s success to the market conditions of the early 2000s. At that time, the Finnish brand faced far fewer strong competitors than modern smartphone manufacturers. Its main rivals included Blackberry, Sony, and Motorola, among others, and Nokia held a very strong position in the mass segment.
Price was another crucial factor. The Nokia 1100 sold for around $100, making it affordable for a huge number of buyers worldwide. By comparison, the Motorola Razr V3, one of the most notable models of that era, cost about $450—significantly more expensive.
The Nokia 1100 remained popular even after the iPhone arrived and the smartphone era began. According to BGR, in 2011, about 50 million of these phones were still in use in Africa alone. Simplicity, low cost, reliability, and long battery life turned the Nokia 1100 into a symbol of mass mobile communication.