The phones, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, drew more than 4 million pre-orders on Sept. 12, more than double the 2 million orders for the company's iPhone 5 model in the same period two years ago.
Analysts had estimated first-weekend sales of up to 10 million iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models, based on the first-day pre-orders.
Last year, Apple sold 9 million iPhone 5S and 5C models in 11 countries, including China, in the first weekend.
Sales of the new models in China have been delayed by regulatory issues.