iPhone 12 Pro Max Named Most Popular 5G Smartphone in United States

Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max held the title of most popular 5G smartphone in 49 of 50 U.S. states as of January 2021, according to PCMag, citing data from Speedtest.net parent company Ookla and research firm M Science.

galaxy s21 iphone 12 pro max
The methodology behind the rankings:

M Science directly tracks sales, and gave us cumulative sales figures up until Jan. 23. Ookla looks at the usage of its Speedtest apps on consumers' phones, and gave us data for tests taken in January. They agree that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the most popular 5G phone in the US.

The standard iPhone 12 Pro was the most popular 5G smartphone in Vermont and the Washington, D.C. capital region, the report claims.

While the iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, and iPhone 12 Pro took the top three spots in the rankings, the smaller iPhone 12 mini was far less popular, in line with reports indicating that the 5.4-inch device has faced lackluster sales. Samsung's Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy S20 Ultra rounded out the top five best-selling 5G smartphones.

iPhone 12 models support ultra-fast mmWave 5G in the United States, and rumors suggest that iPhone 13 models will expand mmWave support to additional countries.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Apple TV Color

Apple TV Announces 12 New Shows and Films Coming This Year

Wednesday February 4, 2026 12:29 pm PST by
Apple on Tuesday previewed 12 new shows and films that will be premiering on the Apple TV streaming service throughout 2026. The new series: Imperfect Women — March 18, 2026 Margo's Got Money Troubles — April 15, 2026 Widow's Bay — April 29, 2026 Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed — May 20, 2026 Cape Fear — June 5, 2026 Lucky — July 15, 2026 The new films: Eternity — ...
iphone 16 pro colors 1

Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Models at Lower Prices

Wednesday February 4, 2026 7:44 am PST by
Apple today began selling certified refurbished iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models on its online store in the U.S., with prices discounted by 12% to 22% compared to Apple's current or former pricing for the devices. Here were Apple's starting prices when the devices launched in September 2024: iPhone 16: $799 iPhone 16 Plus: $899 iPhone 16 Pro:...

Top Rated Comments

Cwoods Avatar
65 months ago
I’m actually surprised the max is more popular than the regular 6.1” pro.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
65 months ago
Favorite iPhone!!! It is a total BEAST. It will only get better.

iPhone 12S will take over the smartphone world in 2021-2022. Cannot wait till September for the announcement.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
65 months ago

It's interesting to me that the regular 12 is so much more popular than the Mini. It wasn't even in the running for me. I either wanted the Pro feature set, or I wanted the small form factor. Why would I want a marginally bigger phone castrated of the features of the identically sized Pro?
And don't tell me battery life. I am just shy of a power user most days and this Mini has held its own as well or better than my 11 Pro did.
This is exactly where I was (ended up with the mini and I love it). I'm not surprised the Max is a top seller, especially when it stands alone with the best features. However, the regular 12 if nothing else plays the psychological/marketing "medium" tier very well, with medium price, medium size, and medium features. Even if many people may be more satisfied going to one extreme or the other, they still often choose the medium because they feel it is the most versatile and carries the least potential for post-purchase regret. Exhibit A: the crossover automobile era. They suck at many things, but they're at least somewhat versatile and low-risk, so everyone keeps buying. Exhibit B: the index fund investment era. They have zero chance of beating the market, but they're a safe long-term play for hands-off types. Risk aversion almost sells itself these days.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LFC2020 Avatar
65 months ago
Not hard to do, when the rest of the completion is releasing garbage phones with garbage software. ???

Hardly see any android users here in Australia, wonder why. ???
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SDJim Avatar
65 months ago

You left out the most important point. The 6.1" model has a 26% larger display area compared to the mini. That's not a marginal increase.
Those % metrics are silly to me. They make it seem like it's some massive difference because in linear metrics that would be major, but when talking about screens on a phone, the difference between these two is minimal (IMO, of course). I even have large hands and still two-hand type on the Mini just fine.

I think it mainly just comes down to the immortal feeling of bigger=better, and the close price of the Mini and 12. That, along with people now accepting the cons that come along with a large phone as normal. For me, I miss being able to forget my phone was in my pocket. Not having it jab me in the hip when sitting in my car and having to adjust it. Not having it so heavy it pulls down gym shorts. Not being able to use it with one hand. The Mini is magical to me because it is the closest thing we have had to the 5s since it was released. The 5s was the best phone design for its time of all time, IMO.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ken88 Avatar
65 months ago
nothing to see here, move along?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)