iPhone 16e Why does Apple think anyone will buy the iPhone 16e?

[uuee6543]

I actually fully agree with the OP in that NOBODY should buy this terrible value phone. Some people MIGHT and I can’t guarantee it won’t sell well, however I strongly believe it’s a TERRIBLE value proposition.

The reason is simple. For the exactly same or similar price you can get a used iPhone 15 pro in EXCELLENT condition as of writing - I checked and there are multiple places offering it in the UK or the US. iPhone 15 pro is better in every conceivable way. Why you’d pay this much money just to have a new VASTLY INFERIOR phone is beyond me.

 

[drugdoubles]

iPhone 16e seems to be Apple's attempt to offer a mid-range device with high-end features, leveraging AI and new hardware while rebranding to avoid the budget stigma. Potential drawbacks include the higher starting price compared to SE models, which might alienate some budget-conscious consumers.

I don’t think any human considers a phone with 1 camera is a mid range phone in 2025

 

[Bento.Box]

I'm also not sure what it's meant to be for.

It's not a replacement for the SE as it is too large.
A new SE was supposed to be the replacement for the aging 13 mini.

There is not much difference in price or features to the regular 16 (e.g. both have the ancient USB 2 interface).

Maybe they want to get rid of the "regular" iphone and will split the line into E and Pro down the line?

When the 13 mini reaches the end of life for me (as it does for some friends of mine), I'll probably switch to the Fairphone. If apple has no longer the technological advantage over their competitors to miniaturize their technology, I might as well choose a model with enhanced longetivity and ease of repair.

 

[QCassidy352]

It’s going to deliver 95% of the experience of the regular 16 at 75% the price. Seems fine to me.

 

[Cunir]

i'm still on an iphone 13 which works fine for me, and I thought about getting this, but having no magsafe has put me off. i only use magsafe for a wallet and charger, but the other upgrades aren't enough to make it worth the bother of switching

 

[rashmikandhil]

Apple's iPhone 16e feels overpriced at $600, making the $800 iPhone 16 a better deal. At $500, it could’ve been a hit, but now it risks being another niche device like the SE 3. Maybe even Apple Intellect isn’t worth it. Was this really worth the development cost?

 

[Sophytaylor6@]

When Apple just launched the iPhone 16e, what was she thinking? Would people prefer all these flaws for $200?
If it had cost $500 I think it would have been a hit, and people would have lined up to buy it, but at $600 I'd save a little more and buy an iPhone 16 for $800
Maybe it's even worth giving up Apple Intellect 😅
Really Apple, it seems like you want this to remain a niche phone like the SE 3 (I'm not sure the amount Apple paid the programmers to write this HTML was worth it to them)
What do you think about this?

iPhone 16e aims to make Apple's latest tech more accessible to everyone who were earlier planning to buy the low models. Now with this, they can get the latest features at an affordable price.

 

[minimo3]

The 16e as it is right now at $599 definitely is not aimed at the same addressable market as the previous SE - price conscious customers. These customers are served today by cheap sub $200 iPhone 13’s that are sold thru Walmart and MVNOs.

However, since this is now a 16-series device, when September rolls around it should see a $100 price cut together with the rest of the line and $499 will be a decent price for a mid range device, although personally if it were me I’d get a 15 instead. The problem is now the mid range is diluted with multiple overlapping choices, all you’re doing is confusing the customer (the paradox of choice) and spreading the same customers across different products instead of growing your pie.

 

[throAU]

When Apple just launched the iPhone 16e, what was she thinking? Would people prefer all these flaws for $200?

Current chip at roughly 2/3 the price.

there are people who want an iPhone that aren't made of money.

For the price, its a good deal, except for that magsafe omission which would have increased the cost by like... $5.

But hey, if you're rocking an older SE you never had magsafe anyway. Just sucks that Apple has segmented the product stack like that over something that costs almost nothing relative to the total BOM cost to implement.

 

[FeliApple]

I think it’s too expensive for a single camera some 10 years after Apple last offered only single camera iPhones. I do think it’s an interesting iPhone to consider for those upgrading from older models.

I’m running an iPhone Xʀ on iOS 12, so I will be doing that, but I’ll be getting the 16 Plus. It’s time for two cameras and the Dynamic Island, I’ll keep it for a long time and I won’t buy an iPhone with fewer features.

That said, it’s a $200 difference compared to the iPhone 16, so that probably means, like I said, that it’s an iPhone to consider for those upgrading from, say, the Xs line and earlier. I don’t think I’d go to a single camera again if I had the 11 or better, but that’s just me.

It’s also a great upgrade coming from any of the 3 iPhone SE models, size issues notwithstanding.

Perhaps for $100 the 15 is a better value proposition, though...

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

This iPhone will be very popular for business I think due to its cost saving price tag. When companies have to buy dozens of mobiles for employees, this sort of level is much more appealing than an iPhone 16.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Won't a lot of cell companies just throw this in for free with a 2 year contract? That's my guess.

They definitely did that with the SE, but I’m starting to wonder if it will ever get that low on price because it’s pretty darn expensive

 

[sunapple]

What about when the 17 launches, won’t the 16 get cheaper and therefore the 16e too? That would be a similar lineup compared to SE pricing, just with newer more capable hardware.

 

[Kottu]

The 16e is the 16 with no Dynamic Island or double lens camera module.

It’s not great value for money however it’s not terrible value either. It’ll probably be a solid seller but won’t do amazing numbers. I am a little underwhelmed for the price, tbh. I’d expect Dynamic Island for a $600 phone.

Apple has no intension that people chose 16e over other models. Among Android manufactures, some models releases only in countries like China, India, Latin American counties etc. Apple want to sell their product everywhere but at a premium price. I am sure that if 16e was a sub 500$ device including VAT, it would become the most sold iPhone ever. But that would cause decline in sale of high end models. Apple want people to stretch a bit longer. For my need, a Macbook AIR M2 was more than enough. But by stretching a bit longer, I got a M1 Pro with better screen, more capable machine. Do I need that extra power? Hell no! But am I happy with my choice? Yes, I am!

 

[Kottu]

What about when the 17 launches, won’t the 16 get cheaper and therefore the 16e too? That would be a similar lineup compared to SE pricing, just with newer more capable hardware.

I think Apple will change their strategy. They may upgrade E version every year and stop selling older non pro models like they use to.

 

[tbgb50]

The vast majority of phone buyers would not understand the difference, nor really care. Is it a value phone, obviously not. The price hike suggests the iPhone 17 models will jump as well.

Will I buy one? - maybe, but not for at least 9 months I look for the best value for a max. of $700. That is all any phone is worth to me.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The price hike suggests the iPhone 17 models will jump as well.

That's the big takeaway, I agree

This could very well be step one in a price hike across the board

Even if it's not, though, it's does get shoppers "closer to the next option", like they've done to Mac configurations for years now, which kick starts the "well if I'm already at X price ... I could just spend a little bit more and get Y!" process.

It's crazy how much mental manipulation is "Cook'd" into Apple product offerings and the overall design of the lineups and pricing.

Some call it "great business" - fair

I personally consider it a nearly abusive relationship with your customers

 

[leifp]

In the past I had to struggle with choosing between regular and Pro models (the mini used to win, now the Pro does). The regular models are no longer in contention for me, depending on whether it’s Qi or Qi2 charging on the e model. Even then, it’s a minor annoyance.

It will also depend on update frequency. Will Apple update the e as they did the SE or as they do their numbered lineup?

Who knows what the selection will be like when I actually do upgrade? I expect my iPhone cycles to stretch to five years now regardless depending on my discipline. Known to be lax when it comes to shiny tech…

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

For a Mac and Apple Forum, this place is full of quite the number of haters.

Don’t buy the 16e. What do you recommend to the cost sensitive buyer instead?

 

[turbineseaplane]

For a Mac and Apple Forum, this place is full of quite the number of haters.

Don’t buy the 16e. What do you recommend to the cost sensitive buyer instead?

We are customers, not sycophants

Folks react to the value and attractiveness of what gets offered

Rather than blaming people, maybe point some blame at Apple and what they choose to produce and release and how they price it?

 

[Adminasadministrator]

You'd be surprised what a big difference $200 makes to some people. You don't see it here on these forums because most users here probably have more disposable income than the average.... But out there in the general public, there is a big portion of people who are already stretching themselves just to get a new iphone and saving even $50 bucks would be huge.... Now one could argue that perhaps these people shouldn't be buying a new phone then. but we all know that's not how consumerism works..... Anyway all this to say that this phone will sell like hotcakes and you're wrong. I could assure you Apple did their research and has tons of data, they didn't just pluck a price out of the air.

 

[DJHB1980]

bring out the 5.4" iPhone 16e Mini at 128gb £399/$399 & 256gb £499/$499 and you have a winner.

 

[cjsuk]

Did some analysis versus replacing the battery in the SE2 for a family member.

 

[russell_314]

magsafe is huge though... I mean when people realize they can't mount to a car mount like their friends some will return it.

I kind of wonder about this one. It’s not like magnetic car mounts weren’t a thing before MagSafe but if someone already has a MagSafe mount, they may not be happy that their phone doesn’t work with it. However, I don’t think this is product marketed to the “cool kids” so grandma might not have a MagSafe mount in her car. I think this is a really entry-level fountain because it’s even below the base model iPhone that most people are still going to buy.

Because Apple has shieeet ton of resources and marketing scientists and probably phd social scientists who have spent millions and now they can sell this phone without affecting their bottom line. I’m sure the 16e will sell tons of unit. And I’m sure when 17 model year comes they’ll keep selling the 16e and 17e along side squeezing profits making the share holders happy.

You’re absolutely correct. Apple is really good at figuring out what customers actually want and making a product that’s competitive so they’ll buy it. That’s the hallmark of a good company.

It is not cheap but I also think it should sell well. Actually most people don’t care about camera or having a lot of functions. It looks and sounds much better than the small phone SE.

It’s definitely not what I’d call cheap because you can buy an android phone for less than $100. I do like it though because it lowers the bar of entry to the iOS ecosystem sort of like the Mac mini does for macOS.

 

[Bento.Box]

Don’t buy the 16e. What do you recommend to the cost sensitive buyer instead?

Right now I'd buy a Fairphone if my iphone 13mini dies.

It's only slightly larger than the smallest current iphone and it's not only cheaper than the 16e, but will also be cheaper to operate due to its user-replaceable parts. No need to pay shops for expensive battery replacements etc.

Otherwise, buy a xiaomi (or comparable) every fews years. Today's apple products no longer last significantly longer than their competition anyway.