Not surprising at all. With the same storage, its $100 more for the 17. That's a no brainer.
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iPhone 16e Has Apparently 'Failed' Just Like iPhone Air
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A $599 "budget" phone and a phone with fewer features yet more expensive than the main model didn't sell as expected.
Who would imagine!
Who would imagine!
People are walking up the pricing ladder and buying the iPhone 17 instead. It is not a failure. It's playing it's role perfectly in the product line up.
Already had successors in the pipeline, the question will be if there is another successor after that.
TBH the proposition of the 16e is bizarre. The SE was a decent, if pretty dated, 'budget' phone. I don't think adding the gen number in front of a phone like this helps anything at all, it puts the device on a regular upgrade cycle which is completely unnecessary. And it's too expensive. Cut the price, keep it a 'gen-less' SE (like the Watch) and upgrade it every now and again. Or just don't bother! I have no idea how customers are supposed to differentiate between the plethora of iPhones available.
I dunno man, I got the 16e this spring to use for video recording and daily use and it's been amazing. Priced a bit higher than I wanted, but I saved money compared to the 16 at the time. 🤷♂️
A phone that's prices WAY too high, with critical features missing? No way it's a flop.
I disagree, it's a mix of display size and form factor. The Pro lineup will always be driven by the biggest, then the budget line is the compromised phone, but the other "experimental" line should focus finding a balance or something new. A lot of people who loved the Mini typically didn't consume media on it (I didn't) because we used other devices. A lot of folks love the Air but Apple royally messed up the price putting it only $100 cheaper than a Pro with not nearly the features.
Apple is making theses devices fail, not the consumers.
They will do anything but make another Mini.
I know folks joke, but I still think it's the perfect sized phone (other than the 1st gen SE/5 form factor...I know that may be a hot take).
The mini still has a good following. Not saying it would sell as much as a Pro, but I think they would sell more than they would Airs and 16e type phones. (no one cares, but..) I still use my 13 Mini daily and likely will until it's not supported by SW anymore.
I know folks joke, but I still think it's the perfect sized phone (other than the 1st gen SE/5 form factor...I know that may be a hot take).
The mini still has a good following. Not saying it would sell as much as a Pro, but I think they would sell more than they would Airs and 16e type phones. (no one cares, but..) I still use my 13 Mini daily and likely will until it's not supported by SW anymore.
Apple, this is an easy fix: bring back the SE name and make the phone actually affordable (<$500) by making sensible sacrifices.
Guess more people were buying the se 2/3 for the Touch ID: home button then they thought?
Apple's entry-level iPhone 16e model is selling poorly, just like the iPhone Air, according to an Asia-based leaker.
The Weibo user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the iPhone 16e is not selling well and the attempt at delivering a popular, low-cost iPhone has "failed." That being said, both models are expected to see successors. The iPhone 17e is expected to debut in the spring of 2026, while the iPhone Air 2 is likely to arrive at a later date owing to a delay. Meanwhile, demand for the iPhone 17 lineup continues to surge, with production orders increasing.
The iPhone 16e was introduced earlier this year, offering the A18 chip, an OLED display, the C1 modem, a 48-megapixel camera, and more, for $599. There have been few reports about its sales performance until now.
On the other hand, the iPhone Air is widely reported to have seen low demand. All production is expected to stop by the end of this month. There were plans for a second-generation iPhone Air that would be released alongside the iPhone 18 Pro in September 2026, but The Information says Apple has decided to delay the fall 2026 launch.
The iPhone 17e is expected to feature the A19 chip and potentially the Dynamic Island. The iPhone Air 2 is rumored to offer an additional rear camera, a larger battery, and a vapor-chamber for cooling. Apple is seemingly hoping that these enhancements will help lift sales.
Article Link: iPhone 16e Has Apparently 'Failed' Just Like iPhone Air
A more expensive SE that doesn't compensate the price with the features it is lacking both compared to other iPhones and competitors with lower prices is unpopular? *insert shocked Pikachu face here*
More a "this was already in development so why back down now" kinda thing. Just like with the iPhone mini 13.
No worries. It comes with a polishing cloth.
And we think you’re gonna love it.
As far as the “bigger” phones I’ve been using the PM phones for a while and I’ll never go back to a smaller phone.
Then again, I’m 6’2”, over 200lbs and have mits the size of Ohio, so the “bigger” items are right sized for me. This includes the Ultra watch.
A random Weibo commenter is an authoritative source for determining "failure"?
What's the definition of failure being used? Is the 16e losing Apple money?
People are too quick to judge products without any information about Apple's goals for products and profitability of products.
Unless they know Apple’s internal sales goals for the 16e, how do they know it has “failed”?
The budget iPad is priced at $329.
The budget iPhone is priced at $600.
One sells. The other one doesn’t sell as well. Guess which one sells.
It’s simple, and it’s a little like the Air: too many compromises for the price.
I upgraded from the iPhone Xʀ. I didn’t even consider the 16e. I wanted a new iPad alongside my Air 5. I got the 11th-gen. One offers a great value proposition. The other one didn’t even cross my mind.
The budget iPhone is priced at $600.
One sells. The other one doesn’t sell as well. Guess which one sells.
It’s simple, and it’s a little like the Air: too many compromises for the price.
I upgraded from the iPhone Xʀ. I didn’t even consider the 16e. I wanted a new iPad alongside my Air 5. I got the 11th-gen. One offers a great value proposition. The other one didn’t even cross my mind.
The 16e didn’t “fail”.
It was the perfect “low-cost” testbed to get the C1 modem out into the public and get more of Apple’s internal silicon development refined.
The Air is their C1X/N1 silicon testbed. The fact C1X is also in the iPad Pro is them signalling they were ready to put it in something more premium - it was getting to the right level of refinement to make it ‘pro’.
It was the perfect “low-cost” testbed to get the C1 modem out into the public and get more of Apple’s internal silicon development refined.
The Air is their C1X/N1 silicon testbed. The fact C1X is also in the iPad Pro is them signalling they were ready to put it in something more premium - it was getting to the right level of refinement to make it ‘pro’.
Its really a corporate phone to sell by the pallet-load. The 16 is only £$100 and a lot more sophisticated. Most people tank the cost of their phone over a 3-year period rather than buying outright and whats an extra few £$ a month? And what is the 'poor selling' metric? Are we measuring it in the millions or against the 17?
On the wider market if you can only afford a maximum of say £$500 to buy your phone outright the by all metrics you'd be better off with a Pixel 9a.
On the wider market if you can only afford a maximum of say £$500 to buy your phone outright the by all metrics you'd be better off with a Pixel 9a.
Well, if you're hoping to get new customers with a budget smartphone, at least make it cheap.
Apple's lineup seems ridiculous.
Just have:
iPhone 17 Air (new price - make it the cheapest, because it has less battery life and only one battery; replaces 16e also)
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro
Just have:
iPhone 17 Air (new price - make it the cheapest, because it has less battery life and only one battery; replaces 16e also)
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro
Exactly. If I wanna new or newer phone but on budget then its not 600 USD. For me it is 200 lol so I go for supported used phone = no Apple tax. Or currently it is not even important if it is supported.
And here is mini comment. If it would be mini it could attract other group of users but may discourage those who do not want small one. Who knows. We see that neither Apple knows
When I took my late lamented iPhone X to the Apple store for a battery replacement a few years ago, the clerk asked me to remove the case and then picked it up, weighed it in his hand and said "I don't blame you for hanging on to this. It's the most elegant, holdable, perfectly balanced iPhone ever made." I agree.
Maybe that design and form factor should be one they readopt? Even if it weren't low-end, I'd switch from my 16 Pro in a heartbeat (well, except for the fact that it'd force me to use Liquid Glass but maybe that'll be fixed by a couple of years from now).
Maybe that design and form factor should be one they readopt? Even if it weren't low-end, I'd switch from my 16 Pro in a heartbeat (well, except for the fact that it'd force me to use Liquid Glass but maybe that'll be fixed by a couple of years from now).
As others have mentioned, the problem is its price. When you compare its price to the Android competitors it looses badly. There is something wrong when a "budget device" starts at $599.
I really like my Air and glad I bought one as I really wanted a light and thin phone, but I admit it shouldn't have been priced as high as it is.
I think both the 16e and Air should have been priced $100 less.
I really like my Air and glad I bought one as I really wanted a light and thin phone, but I admit it shouldn't have been priced as high as it is.
I think both the 16e and Air should have been priced $100 less.
Just some thoughts...
1. These companies trying to short Apple without evidence is pathetic.
2. Apple not reporting sales figures is the only reason this circus is allowed to continue.
3. It is amazing the way gullible sheep will swallow a narrative and repeat it no matter the validity of the source.
4. Both the 16E and iPhone are $200 more expensive than they should have been.
1. These companies trying to short Apple without evidence is pathetic.
2. Apple not reporting sales figures is the only reason this circus is allowed to continue.
3. It is amazing the way gullible sheep will swallow a narrative and repeat it no matter the validity of the source.
4. Both the 16E and iPhone are $200 more expensive than they should have been.