iPhone 16e sales 2025: Apple’s bold move to rebrand its budget iPhone appears to have paid off handsomely. According to fresh data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the newly launched iPhone 16e captured a solid 7% of U.S. iPhone sales in its first partial quarter, significantly outperforming the iPhone SE’s 5% share during the same period last year.
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iPhone 16e sales 2025 : iPhone 16e Outsells SE in First Quarter 2025: Boosts Mid-Range Sales as Pro Models Decline
A Strategic Name Change That Worked Wonders
The iPhone 16e, introduced in late February 2025, marked a big shift for Apple’s lower-priced offering. No longer burdened by the “SE” label — often associated with outdated design — the 16e adopted a sleek, modern look. Gone is the classic Home button; instead, it now boasts an edge-to-edge OLED display, Face ID, and 8GB of RAM—the same amount found in the more premium iPhone 16 Pro models.
Aligning the 16e with the flagship iPhone 16 lineup rather than relegating it to a separate category seems to have been a masterstroke. Despite its slightly less powerful C1 modem — lacking support for the fastest mmWave 5G bands — the iPhone 16e delivered exactly what many customers were craving: a modern iPhone experience at a lower price point.
Mid-Range Models Rise as Pro Sales Dip
The impact of the iPhone 16e was felt across the board. In the March 2025 quarter, the entire iPhone 16 series accounted for 74% of total U.S. iPhone sales, up from 68% the previous year when the iPhone 15 lineup was the newest.
While the 16e certainly played a key role, the standard iPhone 16 also enjoyed a major lift, capturing 20% of sales — a 43% jump from the 14% share held by the base iPhone 15 model a year earlier.
Interestingly, not every part of the lineup shared in the success. iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models accounted for only 38% of sales, a noticeable drop from the 45% share the 15 Pro models commanded last year. Specifically, the iPhone 16 Pro’s market share fell from 22% to 17%, hinting that more consumers were gravitating toward affordable options rather than shelling out for high-end features.
Fewer Legacy iPhone Sales — Another Win for Apple
Another notable trend? Sales of legacy iPhones — models more than a year old — shrank to 26% of total sales, down from 32% the previous year. This decline aligns with Apple’s recent streamlining efforts, including discontinuing the iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus.
Essentially, more buyers are choosing from the current-generation lineup, especially with an affordable, brand-new option like the iPhone 16e available.
What This Means for the Future
The success of the iPhone 16e raises an intriguing question: Will Apple continue this strategy and launch an iPhone 17e? With the iPhone 17 series expected this September, it’s possible we’ll see a new “e” model either alongside it or early next year around the 16e’s anniversary.
One thing is clear: Apple’s rebranding gamble is paying off. By giving the budget iPhone a fresh look and integrating it into the main lineup, Apple has energized its sales — and put more pressure on the Pro models than ever before.
FAQs
What is the iPhone 16e?
The iPhone 16e is Apple’s new mid-range smartphone, replacing the older iPhone SE line.
How did the iPhone 16e perform in its first quarter?
It captured 7% of U.S. iPhone sales in just one partial quarter.
Read more: iPhone 17e Set for May 2026 Launch: Apple Eyes Budget Market with Trial Production Starting Soon
