<p>The improper use of mobile phones has led to a series of challenges for university students, which has garnered significant attention from researchers. University freshmen are particularly vulnerable to maladaptation and may seek a sense of belonging and identity through mobile phone use, and excessive reliance on this behavior can result in mobile phone dependence and negatively impact their mental health. This study examines the relationship between varying degrees of mobile phone dependence and the adaptability of Chinese university freshmen using latent profile analysis, multiple logistic regression, and multivariate analysis of variance, based on the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI) scale and the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) completed by 981 freshmen from one Chinese university (M_age = 18.17, <i>SD</i> = 0.73). The results showed that there were three classes of mobile phone dependence among freshmen, namely, mild dependence (19.7%), moderate dependence (54.3%), and severe dependence (26.0%). Further analysis indicated that demographic factors, such as gender, place of origin, duration of mobile phone ownership, and duration of mobile phone usage per day, significantly influenced freshmen’s mobile phone dependence. Notably, the latent profiles of mobile phone dependence had a significant impact on the adaptability of freshmen. Specifically, freshmen with mild dependence exhibited the highest adaptability, followed by those with moderate and severe dependence. Consequently, university freshmen’s mobile phone dependence had three classes and was closely linked to their adaptability. The study results will provide an empirical basis for universities to address the issue of first-year students’ mobile phone dependence and to carry out effective adaptation education.</p>