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iPhone 16e Is the 16e really priced that bad?

Cirillo Gherardo said:
It's definitely an expectation issue. But that doesn't mean it's wrong. The iPhone SE was $399, and only recently bumped to $429. They replaced it with a $599 phone. Considering what the 16e consists of, it is pretty well priced alongside the 16. But that does nothing for the iPhone customers who only bought an iPhone because $399 was something they could stomach. My in-laws have 6 year old iPhones SE hanging on by a thread, and probably won't upgrade now because the replacement model is so much more expensive.
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Well, remember that US$429 got you a 64 GB phone and the 16e has 128 GB on the base model. I paid an extra US$150 up front to get the 256 GB version of the 2022 iPhone SE but the 16e requires US$99.99.

Yes, it's a bit of a shock but when was the last time you shopped in a store since the end of 2020?

I ended up buying the iPhone 15 with 256 GB because it was less of an experiment. My 2022 iPhone SE was warning me that the battery needed replacement. Apparently, the iPhone 16e is quite good. I just wasn't ready.
 
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Juanchi007 said:
I just wonder what the price cut will be in September. They’ll probably get rid of the 15 completely, and the 16 will drop to $699. Will the 16e also drop a hundred dollars to the much more competitive $499? Or maybe a bit less, to $549?

We’ll find out soon enough, and that’ll give us better guidance for the future since it’s rumored the e lineup will be a yearly thing.
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I think they have not decided yet, depending on sales numbers.
 
bousozoku said:
Well, remember that US$429 got you a 64 GB phone and the 16e has 128 GB on the base model. I paid an extra US$150 up front to get the 256 GB version of the 2022 iPhone SE but the 16e requires US$99.99.

Yes, it's a bit of a shock but when was the last time you shopped in a store since the end of 2020?

I ended up buying the iPhone 15 with 256 GB because it was less of an experiment. My 2022 iPhone SE was warning me that the battery needed replacement. Apparently, the iPhone 16e is quite good. I just wasn't ready.
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I don't like the notion that it's reasonably priced now just because everything is more expensive than it should be.
 
TgeekB said:
I can certainly understand their situation but, if you think about how long this phone will last and be supported, is it really that expensive for what it does? Spread out over 5 or 6 years? I can see them not wanting a plus or max but the 16e will give them many years of service. Ultimately the decision is theirs though.
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Considering how much iPhone actually does, how much it augments daily life, and how much time is spent holding it, poking it, and staring at it...it is undervalued by several thousand dollars. That isn't the point.

They will just NOT buy it until they have to, instead of when they should, because they see the price tag of $599 (and that's times two). How "good" it is doesn't even factor in to the equation.
 
Cirillo Gherardo said:
I don't like the notion that it's reasonably priced now just because everything is more expensive than it should be.
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You sound like my grandfather complaining about the price of a loaf of bread way back when.

You can't turn back time and you can't change prices. I was working retail during the pandemic and saw the little container of Tide go from US$7.99 to $13.99 instantly. It as one of many, many, many things. It wasn't as though the ingredients had become more expensive suddenly, but that the company wanted more money.

In the case of these phones, everything that goes into it has become more expensive. It's difficult to find an LCD panel now, as most of those on small products have gone to OLED. Those panels will drop in price eventually, but rare earth minerals and such will continue to increase in price as they become more rare.
 
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webkit said:
I find the 16e to be a pretty good entry iPhone value at $599 versus the comparatively much smaller and archaic SE3. Based on how Apple and other phone makers price phones, the increased storage (+$50) and size (+$100) over the $429 SE3 alone would bring the price to $579. For just $20 more (bringing the price to $599), you are also getting increased RAM, better camera setup, better chip, better modem, better battery, increased max brightness, super retina XDR display, Apple Intelligence, emergency SOS via satellite, roadside assistance via satellite, Messages via satellite, crash detection, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, ceramic shield, greater water resistance, etc.

I think some of the complaints are less about the 16e price and more about the lack of a sub-$500 iPhone in the lineup. I happen to think Apple, as a "premium" brand, should stay out of the low end of the market.
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Think the same. The 16e at 499$ without AI would be the deal for me and an instant buy. I personnaly don't care that much for AI and I' convinced I'm not alone. Is Ai 100% switchable to off? Or ket's say, use it bit by bit instead jumping it? I work no more so I don't truly need animojis making and summarizing of my 10 emails a day.
 
The iPhone 16e is a decent option for casual users looking to explore the iPhone experience, but it cuts too many corners compared to other iPhones currently available. If you want a more feature-packed, future-proof iPhone, it’s better to save up for the iPhone 16. However, if you can’t save that much, go for the iPhone 15 instead.
 
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Rgill said:
The iPhone 16e is a decent option for casual users looking to explore the iPhone experience, but it cuts too many corners compared to other iPhones currently available. If you want a more feature-packed, future-proof iPhone, it’s better to save up for the iPhone 16. However, if you can’t save that much, go for the iPhone 15 instead.
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There’s nothing feature packed about the 16, it is as future proof as the 16e
 
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shook187 said:
There’s nothing feature packed about the 16, it is as future proof as the 16e
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The 16 is the best value iPhone Apple have probably ever launched. There is little reason to upsell to the Pro models for the majority of customers yet you get enough over the 15 to make it worth the extra money.
 
Rgill said:
The iPhone 16e is a decent option for casual users looking to explore the iPhone experience, but it cuts too many corners compared to other iPhones currently available. If you want a more feature-packed, future-proof iPhone, it’s better to save up for the iPhone 16. However, if you can’t save that much, go for the iPhone 15 instead.
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The features you think make the 16 more "future proof" are useless for some people and there is no reason to pay for them if they don’t use them.

If you need more than what this phone offers, get yourself 16 or 16 Pro.

The only issue with the 16e is its price, which is €100 too much, but to be clear also the prices for the 16 and 16 Pro are too much for what they are.
 
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Ctrlos said:
The 16 is the best value iPhone Apple have probably ever launched. There is little reason to upsell to the Pro models for the majority of customers yet you get enough over the 15 to make it worth the extra money.
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That was true before the 16e came out.
 
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I still think that it's too expensive.
BUT I just saw and felt it in person and I have to say for me it's the best looking iPhone out there.
It looks and feels like good old sexy apple if you know what I mean ;-)
For some people the minimalist design and the lightness might be enough reason to buy this.
 
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It is too much for me, but then all Iphones are over price in my opinion. I tend to stay below the £200 mark for a phone.
 
Cirillo Gherardo said:
They will just NOT buy it until they have to, instead of when they should
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What’s the difference?
“Have to” and “should are close to the same thing, at least when it comes to a phone, and especially for people who aren’t very technical or have very little interest in that sort of thing.
 
I guess I should have spent $1200 on a 16PM to get AI, to not get AI. Get cameras I will not use and have a phone larger than I like, etc.

Some 16E buyers have basic needs, can afford to pay outright for any phone, but don't like to waste money. I don't see why it matters to anyone else.
 
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Who bought the 16e and is really happy here? And why haven’t you pick the 15 pro refurbished?
 
Astuces iOS said:
Who bought the 16e and is really happy here? And why haven’t you pick the 15 pro refurbished?
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I did, and it’s great. And that’s coming from a Pixel 9 Pro and a 15 Pro before.

It does everything I need, and is lightweight and a nice size.

15 Pro refurbished from Apple isn’t an option and wouldn’t even be close price wise, and from elsewhere is a gamble. Plus I don’t want a phone other people have had in the toilet with them thanks.

AppleCare is cheap on it, which you can’t get on a non Apple refurb device either. Battery life is better on the 16e as well.
 
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Astuces iOS said:
Who bought the 16e and is really happy here? And why haven’t you pick the 15 pro refurbished?
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If Apple was charging $600-650 for certified refurbs from their store with their warranty, I'd feel more comfortable with that. But I can assure if/when Apple starts selling refurb'd 15 Pro's, they're going to be well over $600. I wouldn't trust buying a refurb'd 15 Pro from a random 3rd party seller on Amazon, even if reputable. It might be fine, but it also might not - there are inherent risks with doing that that don't exist otherwise.

You just can't know the history and can't be assured you won't have any issues with the IMEI in the future. Also, if it's been repaired by anybody but Apple, Apple might not be willing to do work on it in the future. It's a calculated risk, but a risk nonetheless, and one I personally wouldn't want to take.

Had a 15 Pro that was going to need a battery replacement in the next year; traded in for 16e - and I liked the 15 Pro a lot. 16e battery is much better, and form factor is nicer, but the 15 Pro obviously had some bells and whistles the 16e doesn't. But I'm enjoying the 16e.
 
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jntdroid said:
If Apple was charging $600-650 for certified refurbs from their store with their warranty, I'd feel more comfortable with that. But I can assure if/when Apple starts selling refurb'd 15 Pro's, they're going to be well over $600. I wouldn't trust buying a refurb'd 15 Pro from a random 3rd party seller on Amazon, even if reputable. It might be fine, but it also might not - there are inherent risks with doing that that don't exist otherwise.

You just can't know the history and can't be assured you won't have any issues with the IMEI in the future. Also, if it's been repaired by anybody but Apple, Apple might not be willing to do work on it in the future. It's a calculated risk, but a risk nonetheless, and one I personally wouldn't want to take.

Had a 15 Pro that was going to need a battery replacement in the next year; traded in for 16e - and I liked the 15 Pro a lot. 16e battery is much better, and form factor is nicer, but the 15 Pro obviously had some bells and whistles the 16e doesn't. But I'm enjoying the 16e.
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The 15 Pros are in the refurb store for 929€ where I live.
 
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