You're confusing carrier subsidies with Apple selling at a loss... Apple never sold phones at a loss, the carriers did. Apple always gets paid.

Where did you get the idea that Apple is selling iPhones at a loss?

No, they never have. iPhone hardware has basically been AAPL’s biggest cash cow with margins around 50%

I was unaware they ever did? Source?

Apple has never sold phones at a loss.

iPhone is one of the highest margin products in apples ecosystem