Guide
The carbon cost
of a new iPhone
Most of a new iPhone's carbon footprint comes from making it, not using it. That's why keeping the phone you have is usually the greenest choice.
Updated 9 November 2026
Where the carbon comes from
Apple's environmental report for the iPhone 16 (128 GB) puts its lifetime footprint at 56 kg of CO₂e: 80% from production, 3% from shipping, and 18% from years of charging. We apply the same 80% share to the other models below.
| New iPhone | Lifetime footprint | Making it (≈80%) | Like driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17e (256 GB) | 47 kg | 38 kg | ~100 miles |
| iPhone 16 (128 GB) | 56 kg | 45 kg | ~110 miles |
| iPhone 17 (256 GB) | 55 kg | 44 kg | ~110 miles |
| iPhone Air (256 GB) | 55 kg | 44 kg | ~110 miles |
| iPhone 18 Pro (256 GB) | 63 kg | 50 kg | ~120 miles |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max (256 GB) | 69 kg | 55 kg | ~140 miles |
| iPhone Duo (256 GB) | 93 kg | 74 kg | ~180 miles |
Lifetime figures from Apple's Product Environmental Reports. Driving comparison uses the US EPA figure of about 400 g of CO₂ per mile for a typical passenger car.
What about the repair?
A new battery or screen isn't carbon-free, and Apple doesn't publish a footprint for individual repairs. But replacing one part is a small fraction of building and shipping a whole new phone, which is why we say "roughly" rather than claiming an exact saving.
If you do upgrade
Trade in or recycle the old phone rather than leaving it in a drawer. Apple says traded-in phones are reused or recycled.
See the money and the carbon your own phone could save.
Get your exact estimate