iPhone 16e Many complain about 16e price, but their body action is the most honest

[Fyrus]

This is from Feb 3rd, 2025

Apple repeats as the top global smartphone manufacturer in 2024 and this iPhone model was number one

Apple repeats as the world's top smartphone manufacturer in 2024 narrowly topping Samsung.

www.phonearena.com

Yes, thank you for providing a source to my claims. Apple sold less phones and lost market share according to this article.

 

[Fyrus]

You picked out one thing and focused on it without looking at the big picture. Also, Apple remains the most valuable company in the world. I find it hard to criticize their results.

It’s the one thing I claimed, them losing sales and shares. What else should I focus on?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

The MacBook Air didn’t drastically increase in price when it got a Retina display, simply because those displays were produced in high enough numbers at that point.

Excuse me?
Non-retina MacBook Air (2017): $999
First retina MacBook Air (2018): $1199

And if you want to get even more specific, the first retina MacBook, which was worse than the MacBook Air in many ways but better in many others, was $1299 at launch in 2015. What was the MacBook Air selling for in 2015? $899.

Apple did not sell a MacBook Air with a retina display for under $1000 until 2020, and even then it was more than likely because that long-dated 2017 MacBook Air without a retina display was actually not 2017 hardware at all, but 2015 hardware, which all had long gone out of production.

 

[Fyrus]

Excuse me?
Non-retina MacBook Air (2017): $999
First retina MacBook Air (2018): $1199

And if you want to get even more specific, the first retina MacBook, which was worse than the MacBook Air in many ways but better in many others, was $1299 at launch in 2015. What was the MacBook Air selling for in 2015? $899.

Apple did not sell a MacBook Air with a retina display for under $1000 until 2020, and even then it was more than likely because that long-dated 2017 MacBook Air without a retina display was actually not 2017 hardware at all, but 2015 hardware, which all had long gone out of production.

So a 10% increase. Which I wouldn’t call a drastic increase. I didn’t say it didn’t increase at all.

I mean, I am very aware that a company wants to recoup it’s investment creating a whole new production line.

So how much did the price increase from the SE3 to the 16E? Pretty sure that’s over 30%, while it uses a lot of old parts so less of an investment from Apple.

And yes there’s a reason that 12” MacBook failed. It was too expensive for it’s features.

 

[jntdroid]

So a 10% increase. Which I wouldn’t call a drastic increase. I didn’t say it didn’t increase at all.

I mean, I am very aware that a company wants to recoup it’s investment creating a whole new production line.

So how much did the price increase from the SE3 to the 16E? Pretty sure that’s over 30%, while it uses a lot of old parts so less of an investment from Apple.

Actually 20% (999 to 1,199)

But still, you’re not wrong about the recycled parts. The problem is you’re comparing it to other flagships. Compared to the SE3 - which also used recycled parts and a custom modem - the increase doesn’t seem quite as irrational.

 

[Fyrus]

Actually 20% (999 to 1,199)

But still, you’re not wrong about the recycled parts. The problem is you’re comparing it to other flagships. Compared to the SE3 - which also used recycled parts and a custom modem - the increase doesn’t seem quite as irrational.

Yeah I was just editing the post as my brain wasn’t braining. It’s nearly 3 at night over here so I should get to bed lol.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

So a 10% increase. Which I wouldn’t call a drastic increase. I didn’t say it didn’t increase at all.

So your argument is that a $999 laptop going up to $1199 is OK, nothing wrong with that at all…
But a $479 phone going up to $599, yet gaining significantly more than that original retina MacBook Air did, isn’t?
Make it make sense, and while you’re making it make sense, keep in mind that the SE barely made up 10% of sales.

 

[jntdroid]

So your argument is that a $999 laptop going up to $1199 is OK, nothing wrong with that at all…
But a $479 phone going up to $599, yet gaining significantly more than that original retina MacBook Air did, isn’t?
Make it make sense, and while you’re making it make sense, keep in mind that the SE barely made up 10% of sales.

Oh that's a good point actually. The 128gb SE3 was $479, not $429. $479 to $599 is a 25% increase, while the MacBook example was a 20% increase.

And I think I could argue that the 16e is 25% better than the SE3 - which they were still selling for $479 until last week.

 

[Racineur]

...

I've always know Apple milked their customers at one point. Let's say it was not oàso obvious in the times of Jbs and even Amelio. Now it's become a joke, an Apple tax or a premium for a brand that is premium by name only most of the time. Fanboy here but not blind fanboy.

 

[ericwn]

I've always know Apple milked their customers at one point. Let's say it was not oàso obvious in the times of Jbs and even Amelio. Now it's become a joke, an Apple tax or a premium for a brand that is premium by name only most of the time. Fanboy here but not blind fanboy.

I believe the perceived extra for Apple stuff was way higher with former CEOs and since Apple is firmly doing mainstream products for the last decade or two prices seem closer to their competitors. All companies are out to make a profit btw, Apple might just be better of a value proposition for the repeat buyer, because if everyone would feel they are a joke they would not buy the stuff.

 

[ericwn]

Yes, thank you for providing a source to my claims. Apple sold less phones and lost market share according to this article.

Looks like Apple wasn’t the only one losing sales and market share in that comparison table but still come out way on top of their competition. To use this article as a talking point for the usual Apple is doomed talk seems short sighted, at best.

 

[geta]

So your argument is that a $999 laptop going up to $1199 is OK, nothing wrong with that at all…
But a $479 phone going up to $599, yet gaining significantly more than that original retina MacBook Air did, isn’t?
Make it make sense, and while you’re making it make sense, keep in mind that the SE barely made up 10% of sales.

SE3 with 128GB was €540 while the new 16e with 128GB is €709, which is 31% increase and that’s a big jump in price.

 

[RRC]

SE3 with 128GB was €540 while the new 16e with 128GB is €709, which is 31% increase and that’s a big jump in price.

Big jump in improvements as well…

 

[geta]

Big jump in improvements as well…

You're right, but mostly I care about the new CPU, more RAM and battery life. However, I will have to sacrifice the smaller screen size and touchID for these improvements, and i’m not sure it is worth the price increase. 🤷‍♂️

 

[webkit]

But Apple effectively removed the other options, introducing a new member to the iPhone family who’s only function is to push even more people towards the regular 16.

Why would the 16e necessarily push people to the 16? In the U.S., there is still a $230 price difference between the two. That's more than the $170 price difference between the 16 and 16 Pro. Just as not everyone cares about the features the 16 Pro has over the 16, not everyone cares about the features the 16 has over the 16e.

That’s why people are calling out Apple, they removed a product that was perfect for our parents and children.

Then they should complain about the removal of the archaic SE, not about the 16e.

The 16e has over the SE a much larger display, twice the base storage, 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.

Given how Apple and other phone makers price phones, the larger size alone could account for much of the increase but the 16e also has all of the above. Seems like a pretty good entry iPhone value to me.

Tim Cook’s Apple even stopped releasing sales data for iPhones per model as it has slowly but steadily been losing market share.

Since Apple stopped providing sales numbers, iPhone sales have been very strong. According to reported estimates, 2021 to 2024 were the best global iPhone sales years ever.

 

[DukeSilver79]

Seriously? Not even 1% of buyers have any clue what "a 60 Hz screen in 2025" is.

Just because so many people don't have any clue doesn't make it suddenly a good deal. It's still not a good deal, IMO. It's a forum and as long as we are respectful, we can voice our opinion and talk with our money. I'll buy a 15 pro refurb or something long before I get my wife a 16e who is still rocking an iPhone 8. And yes, if she were phone shopping herself, she probably wouldn't be shopping for refurbs. She would be that person going into a store, just asking for the "cheapest and newest iPhone."

 

[webkit]

Just because so many people don't have any clue doesn't make it suddenly a good deal.

But it still doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good deal for most buyers. If it is true that the vast majority of 16e buyers are unaware what a 60Hz screen is then it has no meaning/value to them. Therefore, refresh rates would have no bearing on whether the 16e is a "good deal" for the vast majority of buyers.

Even the $230 more expensive 16 and $330 more expensive 16 Plus have 60Hz refresh rates.

 

[jntdroid]

But it still doesn't necessarily mean it's not a good deal. If it is true that the vast majority of 16e buyers are unaware what a 60Hz screen is then it has no meaning/value to them. Therefore, refresh rates would have no bearing on whether the 16e is a "good deal" for the vast majority of buyers.

Even the $230 more expensive 16 and $330 more expensive 16 Plus have 60Hz refresh rates.

TBH, 60hz shouldn't even be mentioned in any argument against the 16e given that the 15, 16, and 16 Plus - all more expensive - also are stuck on 60hz.

There is a general argument to be made about any phone over $500 lacking a higher refresh rate given what Android devices are doing. But that's not a knock against the 16e.

 

[drugdoubles]

SE4 (16e) charges so much more than SE3, iPad stays the same, any suggestion?

 

[russell_314]

SE4 (16e) charges so much more than SE3, iPad stays the same, any suggestion?

Are you asking why the iPhone 16e is more expensive than the third generation iPhone SE? I don’t believe the iPhone 16e is related to the iPhone SE lineup. The iPhone SE was the old style classic iPhone. The iPhone 16e is pretty much a budget iPhone 16.

 

[Paddle1]

The 16e has the latest chip and a new design while the iPad is still the same form factor.

 

[JPack]

iPad 9 (2021) - $329
iPad 10 (2022) - $449
iPad 11 (2025) - $349

Maybe the iPhone 17e or 18e will get a price drop?

 

[russell_314]

iPad 9 (2021) - $329
iPad 10 (2022) - $449
iPad 11 (2025) - $349

Maybe the iPhone 17e or 18e will get a price drop?

Also, the iPad 10 was the redesign. If we’re going to consider the iPhone 16e, the updated iPhone SE then that would make sense.

I felt like the iPad 10 was pushing into iPad Air price territory. I guess that’s the feeling people get with the iPhone 16e if they’re considering it an SE replacement.

 

[RRC]

Here doubledrugs is again with his 16e bashing…

The new iPad is the same form factor, the same pretty much everything hence no price increase.

iPhone 16e is a completely new device over the one it replaced with increased storage, chip, display, speakers, camera, modem, haptic motor, face unlock, matte glass finish on the back and USB-C.

Hope that helps.

 

[webkit]

SE4 (16e) charges so much more than SE3, iPad stays the same, any suggestion?

The 16e is "so much more" than the SE3 because of everything it has over the SE3 including much larger display, 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.

Given how Apple and other companies price their devices, the larger size alone could account for much of the increase but the 16e also has all of the above.

The changes/improvements to the new iPads over the previous versions are much less significant than the changes/improvements of the 16e over the SE3.