iPhone 16e Sales Outperform SE in First Quarter YoY, Pro Models Decline

[MacRumors]

New data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) suggests Apple's iPhone 16e is off to a strong start, capturing 7% of U.S. iPhone sales in its first partial quarter of availability. The new mid-range offering outperformed the iPhone SE's share from the same quarter last year.

The entire iPhone 16 lineup, now consisting of five models with the addition of the 16e, accounted for 74% of total U.S. iPhone sales in the March 2025 quarter. It's a marked increase from the 68% share held by the four iPhone 15 models during the same period in 2024.

While the 16e drove much of this growth, CIRP's data shows some surprising shifts across the lineup. The standard iPhone 16 saw a decent boost, climbing to 20% of sales compared to just 14% for the iPhone 15 in the previous year's quarter.

Meanwhile, Apple's high-end models had an unexpected decline. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max together accounted for 38% of iPhone sales, down from 45% for the iPhone 15 Pro models a year earlier. The iPhone 16 Pro specifically dropped from 22% to 17% market share.

The numbers suggest Apple's strengthening of its mid-range offerings may be working overall, with more buyers choosing the standard iPhone 16 over the pricier Pro models. At the same time, the 16e appears to be wooing customers who previously might have opted for older models.

Legacy iPhones – defined as models more than a year old – fell to 26% of U.S. sales, down from 32% the year before. The decline coincides with Apple's streamlining of its iPhone lineup, which included discontinuing the iPhone SE and the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus during the quarter.

Article Link: iPhone 16e Sales Outperform SE in First Quarter YoY, Pro Models Decline

 

[turbineseaplane]

Because it’s the cheapest new phone

Comparing to the SE last year isn’t that relevant as it’s a totally different type of offering, and it was already dated at that point.

 

[dominiongamma]

Because it’s the cheapest new phone

Sad part is that it’s not that cheap for the features they removed

 

[oldmacs]

Wouldn't a comparison to iPhone 13 or 14 sales a year ago be more relevant? Or sales of the SE 3rd gen in 2022 when it was released?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

But… But… but failure!!! Tim Crook!!! That’s what MR told me!!!

You gotta love how they are trying to make this phone successful. I have yet to see it anywhere on the streets.)

Surely this guy wouldn’t lie to me! He knows everything.

word on the street nobody cares about that useless device

This guy too? But I thought he knew the “word on the street”, there’s no way that he could’ve gotten it wrong.

 

[bluecoast]

According to nearly all tech reviewers, no-one should buy the 16e.

Looks like that got lost in translation then (I'm a 16e owner).

I would be interested to know how people are buying the 16e - I'm going to assume that it's mostly via carrier deals, but I'd love to know.

 

[TechRunner]

The 16e reminds me of the Pixel "a" phones. They represent good value for the specs, especially if purchased on sale or with carrier deals.

 

[2low_tech]

I'm curious how many 16Es were bought by companies. My brother's company is in the process of upgrading from the SE to the 16e for some sales folks.

 

[bookcase]

Many people, like my family, can’t justify the cost for Pro features we rarely used. After two years of upgrading to Pro, we “downgraded” to the standard 16 last year and it’s better than fine. I’d go even further for the 16e, but that gets rid of far too many features for the price.

 

[TechRunner]

I'm curious how many 16Es were bought by companies. My brother's company is in the process of upgrading from the SE to the 16e for some sales folks.

Our company currently uses 14s, but I would gladly take a 16e when they decide to upgrade.

 

[kiranmk2]

I think the bigger story is how the iPhone 16 Pro sales have been ceded to the iPhone 16 indicating that Apple has done a good job of improving the base iPhone whilst the iPhone Pro looks a bit stagnant.

 

[sunapple]

No matter how bad the value is compared to Android, a cheaper iPhone sells like a cheaper iPhone.

I do wonder whether that iPhone 15 sells worse this time around because of Apple Intelligence, seeing how 14 vs 15 played out last year. The 15 otherwise seems like a good deal to me, even now and also compared to 16e.

 

[Calle68]

Unexpected decline? What? They reached the value of a kidney on the market.

 

[Spock]

The 16e reminds me of the Pixel "a" phones. They represent good value for the specs, especially if purchased on sale or with carrier deals.

But when compared to the low cost Pixel phone, the only benefit you have is iOS. The Pixel 9a is the better device other than the operating system.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

I'm curious how many 16Es were bought by companies. My brother's company is in the process of upgrading from the SE to the 16e for some sales folks.

My company only offered the SE, and now the 16e. Those on the SE 2nd gen are being upgraded to the 16e, and the rest of us on the SE 3rd gen will be upgraded next fiscal year.

Haven't physically handled one, but see them in the hallways all the time. They look really good, and much cleaner and minimalist compared to my 16 Pro...if I was in the market for an iPhone, I would probably choose the 16e.

 

[TechRunner]

But when compared to the low cost Pixel phone, the only benefit you have is iOS. The Pixel 9a is the better device other than the operating system.

You'll get no argument from me. I loved my Pixels. And Android has come a long way, IMO.

 

[Remy149]

I think the bigger story is how the iPhone 16 Pro sales have been ceded to the iPhone 16 indicating that Apple has done a good job of improving the base iPhone whilst the iPhone Pro looks a bit stagnant.

I also think many consumers of the pro are people who the to upgrade earlier in the release cycle. I always upgrade on launch

 

[Remy149]

But when compared to the low cost Pixel phone, the only benefit you have is iOS. The Pixel 9a is the better device other than the operating system.

The average consumer rarely changes ecosystem. Most iPhone customers don’t care about the specs on any android phone

 

[Abazigal]

There's a small but thriving community of iPhone 16e users on Reddit.

r/IPhone16e

Welcome to the iphone 16e/se 2025 subreddit

www.reddit.com

One guy even traded in his 15 pro for one.

I handled one at the Apple Store a while back and found it to be a nice piece of hardware. Light, feels good in the hand, the single camera bump may actually be preferable for some users, it seems like there's more to the overall user experience than a plain spec sheet would otherwise let on.

 

[Plutonius]

It's mostly about price.

 

[ghanwani]

Because it’s the cheapest new phone

Comparing to the SE last year isn’t that relevant as it’s a totally different type of offering, and it was already dated at that point.

Not only dated but they never once dropped the price in the 3 years that it was on sale.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Not only dated but they never once dropped the price in the 3 years that it was on sale.

In the US, almost no one paid full price the SE. You could routinely find them on sale for next to nothing on prepaid plans, or as a free upgrade on post-paid.

But when compared to the low cost Pixel phone, the only benefit you have is iOS. The Pixel 9a is the better device other than the operating system.

The amount of people who pick a phone based on the spec sheet is a rounding error, Android or iPhone.

That said, my wife has a Pixel 8 and it's a fantastic phone. I would have no problem using one as my daily.

 

[applesith]

It looks like the MR crowd was wrong in this, with all the doubt from the 16e announcement. It's amazing how the internet is an echo chamber disconnected from the real world, with this too.

 

[Remy149]

Not only dated but they never once dropped the price in the 3 years that it was on sale.

Apple never going to reduce the price in their stores. However devices like the se and 16e are more likely going to be bought by consumers getting them discounted through a cell carrier. The se was often given away for “free” from carriers

 

[deevey]

And yet 6% of sales for the iPhone mini was an epic failure and no-one wanted it. 🤷‍♂️