MAKHACHKALA, February 17 – RIA “Dagestan”. According to an analysis by the MTS digital ecosystem, the number of retro smartphones—particularly older iPhone models—active on its network has doubled across Russian regions over the past year. The iPhone 5S ranks as the most widely used vintage device.
This trend is especially visible in the Northern Caucasus, where Apple products previously held a dominant market position. Users attribute their continued loyalty to the reliable performance of older iPhone models and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem. Retro iPhones significantly outpace interest in legacy Android devices, accounting for 76% of all smartphones manufactured before 2013 that remain in use.
The most notable growth in retro iPhone usage has occurred among younger users. In 2025, individuals aged 14 to 18 made up 14% of all retro smartphone users—nearly double the share recorded in 2024. Other active age groups include users aged 25–44 (15.9%) and 18–24 (7%). Regions with the highest shares of retro iPhone users include Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Ufa and the republics of the North Caucasus.