iPhone 16e had stronger demand than iPhone SE 3 did at launch

AppleInsider

The iPhone 16e is off to a faster start than the 2022 iPhone SE 3 managed, giving Apple a boost in the competitive mid-range phone market.

iPhone 16e

Apple's latest budget-friendly model is making an immediate impact, according to new sales data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). The iPhone 16e accounted for seven percent of total U.S. iPhone sales in the first quarter, outperforming the iPhone SE's performance in 2024.

Combined, the five iPhone 16 models made up 74 percent of iPhone sales in the U.S., up from 68 percent for the iPhone 15 lineup during the same quarter in 2024.

CIRP doesn't mention a specific iPhone SE model, but it's clear which model they're talking about. The last version released was the third-generation iPhone SE in 2022, which remained current throughout 2024.

The iPhone SE fades as Apple simplifies its lineup

The early traction suggests the iPhone 16e is pulling in buyers who previously gravitated toward older or discounted models. Legacy iPhones, defined as models more than a year old, fell to 26 percent of U.S. sales, down from 32 percent the year before.

That marks a key change. The iPhone SE's appeal largely rested on its familiarity -- a Home button, small display, and a design dating back to the iPhone 6.

The iPhone 16e, by contrast, offers a modern form factor while still hitting a lower price point. That likely makes it more appealing to buyers who want affordability without feeling behind the curve.

iPhone lineup performance in back-to-back March quarters. Image credit: CIRP

It shares key specs with the standard iPhone 16, including the A18 chip and 6.1-inch OLED display, but it cuts back in a few areas. It lacks the Dynamic Island, MagSafe support, and ultra-wide camera, and uses slower wireless charging.

The base iPhone 16 also saw gains, rising to 20 percent of sales compared to 14 percent for the iPhone 15 last year. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max accounted for 38 percent of sales, a decline from 45 percent for their iPhone 15 equivalents.

These shifts suggest that interest is growing in Apple's lower and mid-tier options.

Future plans remain unclear

It's unclear whether Apple will refresh the "e" model annually or stick with the iPhone SE's slower update cycle. If an iPhone 17e arrives in 2026, the iPhone 16e may remain available at a lower price.

The iPhone 16e's early success points to a smart move by Apple. It fills a gap in the mid-range market that Android manufacturers have traditionally dominated.

At the same time, it helps streamline the lineup by offering modern hardware across the full price range.



Read on AppleInsider

charlesn

I fully expect a 17e next year and I can't imagine the 16e would stay in the lineup as a lower-priced phone that would cannibalize sales of the more expensive 17e. I think the lineup will remain similar to what we now have, in ascending price order: 17e, 16, 17, 17 Slim?, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max. Just not sure where the Slim will fall on the pricing scale--possibly equal to the regular Pro? 

mike1

After all those ridiculous doom and gloom articles, I guess MagSafe isn't a deal breaker for those customers after all.

wood1208

iPhone 16e serves the purpose, need(good enough) for a significant number of iPhone users. What I realized, my SE3 camera and functionality was good enough but was lacking larger screen.  Now iPhone users can buy lower priced, large screen, faster, better single camera iphone 16e.

raymondai

Bullseye,
a meaningful sector of the market just needs a simpler and basic iOS device to fill, the core is a powerful cpu for relative longer run to upgrade the os,  then everything is fine.

yyzguy

Their stats don’t include people like myself who opted to purchase a refurbished iPhone 13 mini when a fourth generation iPhone SE wasn’t announced.   How many others kept what they had or purchased an older model no longer available from the retail channels?  Only Apple can see which models are active.

sitime

mike1 said:

After all those ridiculous doom and gloom articles, I guess MagSafe isn't a deal breaker for those customers after all.

Which ridiculous doom and gloom articles would those be? (Which articles specifically?) I know people think and feel there were doom and gloom articles, but… were there?

edited April 23

wesley_hilliard

SiTime said:

mike1 said:

After all those ridiculous doom and gloom articles, I guess MagSafe isn't a deal breaker for those customers after all.

Which ridiculous doom and gloom articles would those be? (Which articles specifically?) I know people think and feel there were doom and gloom articles, but… were there?

Are the doom and gloom articles in the room with us right now?

mrakoplas

mike1 said:

After all those ridiculous doom and gloom articles, I guess MagSafe isn't a deal breaker for those customers after all.

It actually was a dealbreaker for me - I waited for SE3 to replace my 13 mini, and after assessing the 16E disgrace, I just bought Samsung phone… It has its advantages, it has its drawbacks, but at least, it’s suits my needs, unlike 16E and it’s not a functional downgrade, as 16E would be. Sad I had to sell AW Ultra (I liked them much) and buy Garmin instead, but if Apple doesn’t want to make a decent, relatively small phone, I buy elsewhere…

edited 6:39AM