Last February saw the release of the iPhone 16e, replacing the previous iPhone SE 2022 model and a clear sign that Apple wants to release this "accessible" model more regularly. The device has apparently had a good start, a success recently confirmed by the firm Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).
iPhone 16 sales up thanks to the 16e££££
In the United States, the iPhone 16e represented 7% of iPhones sold in the first quarter, while it was not even on sale in January. This is 40% better than the iPhone SE during the same period last year (although the "newness" effect plays a large part in this growth). In the first quarter, the iPhone 16 series represented 74% of total smartphones sold in the US. This figure was 68% last year for the iPhone 15. It is not incorrect to attribute part of this increase to the contribution of the new iPhone 16e.
The iPhone 16e is somewhat overshadowing the Pro and Pro Max models££££
It should be noted, however, that the iPhone 16e has helped to swallow up some of the sales of the premium Pro and Pro Max models. In the first quarter of 2024, these versions represented 45% of iPhones sold in the US, a share that fell to 38% over the same period in 2025. But in the end, the name change from SE to 16e will have been a good deal for Apple.
