iPhone Air "Flop" Analysis: Is the iPhone 16e also struggling for Apple?
Apple often has problems with "special models" for iPhone. Demand for the 16e is reportedly sluggish. What does that mean?
A stack full of iPhones: With the 16e, Apple wanted to attract entry-level buyers.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch / heise medien)
Apples best-selling iPhones of recent years have always come from two areas: the standard model (most recently the significantly upgraded iPhone 17) and the Pro variants (most recently iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max). Apple's attempts to market special models often fail surprisingly often. At least, that's the consensus among most analysts, as Apple itself doesn't reveal the distribution, and hasn't even mentioned total sales for years. Apparently, this story is repeating itself now with the iPhone Air. According to insiders, large parts of production have already been stopped. However, the latest report comes from a different area: the well-known Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital recently claimed, also the iPhone 16e, launched last spring as Apple's new entry-level model, is performing worse than expected. But why does Apple find it so difficult to place special variants of the iPhone? And what does this mean for the long-awaited company's Foldable, expected in autumn 2027?
Model experiments at Apple
When the iPhone first launched in 2007, there was only one variant. That was easy for users to understand and remained so for many years. Diversification of the product line only began in 2013. At that time, alongside the standard iPhone 5s model, the very first additional model, the iPhone 5c, was released. This was also positioned as an entry-level variant: colorful plastic casing, lower price. With the iPhone 6 in 2014, phablets began: alongside the standard 6, a Plus model with 5.5 instead of 4.7 inches was introduced for the first time. This showed that users liked it – a preview of the later Pro models, which are also available in two sizes.
Videos by heise
In 2016, the second entry-level model appeared in the form of the SE – out of sequence in March. With the iPhone 7 (autumn of the same year), there was again a Plus model, and with the iPhone 8 (2017), the same. Here, the iPhone X additionally brought an anniversary device with new technology to the market – a full-screen display without a home button and with a "notch" – which also sold very well, also a preview of later Pro models. 2018 was again a year of three models: XS, XS Max, and the entry-level friendly XR. With the iPhone 11, the current phase began: in 2019, there was a standard model (11) and two Pro variants (11 Pro and 11 Pro Max).
It started with the Mini
With the iPhone 12 from 2020 onwards, Apple's experiments began: the standard model and two Pro variants met a Mini iPhone (not so Mini compared to earlier models with 5.4 inches), which was also available in 2021 with the iPhone 13. However, it became apparent that users apparently did not appreciate this. Apple decided against the format. With the iPhone 14, the Mini was replaced by a Plus model, which differed from the standard model by its larger size. This was continued with the 15 and 16. In the years since the iPhone 12, there has of course always been a standard model plus two Pro variants.
So now we have arrived at the iPhone 17 – and Apple has attempted the most radical redesign in recent years. The Plus model has disappeared, and instead, the iPhone Air has been introduced. Currently, it looks very likely that there will be at least a successor model, even if sales are not particularly good according to analysts and insiders. Apple is now reportedly planning to postpone both the standard iPhone 18 and an Air 2 to early 2027 to make room for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max along with the new Foldable in September 2026.
iPhone selection becomes more complex
But why are Apple's special models met with comparatively little enthusiasm? The reason lies in market placement. With the Air, you get the thinnest iPhone ever, but you pay a lot extra and have practical disadvantages with slightly lower battery life and only one rear camera. With a potentially flopping iPhone 16e, it's not about innovations (old design meets new technology), but strictly about price: The model, especially in Europe, is not a bargain at 699 euros. Those who spend this much money might save a bit more and buy the standard 17 (from 949 euros) directly, especially since prices are currently dropping.
Will Apple return to a simpler portfolio? This is not to be expected. Instead, the company is likely to launch up to six models annually, but not all at once. Experiments are paid for by the war chest. Buying an iPhone will become more complex. It will be interesting to see how well the Foldable, likely priced well over 2000 euros, will sell in autumn 2026. This is Apple's biggest iPhone experiment to date.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(bsc)
