Home
News
You are here

Survey says Apple will have a hard time turning the iPhone 16e into a box-office hit

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Mar 19, 2025, 12:35 PM

0comments

Have you purchased or are you thinking of getting Apple's latest "inexpensive" iPhone in the near future? If yes, you seem to be in a minority among Cupertino's US-based fans, at least according to an online survey conducted shortly after the official announcement of the surprisingly named iPhone 16e last month.

The branding revision of what was widely expected to be called iPhone SE 4 or iPhone SE (2025) until just a few weeks ago hasn't made a lot of folks happy, and the same goes for many of the 16e's underwhelming features and excessive price point. Still, given that this device was never supposed to be Apple's top seller this year, the numbers in the latest Sellcell survey are not all bad.

The vast majority of iPhone users are unimpressed with the 16e

Be honest, what was the last mobile device that truly "impressed" you? Samsung's original Galaxy Fold... at first glance? The surprisingly refined Galaxy Z Fold 2? The Dynamic Island-introducing iPhone 14 Pro? Regardless of your answer, it's pretty obvious that the notched iPhone 16e was never meant to knock anyone's socks off with either its repetitive design or largely unremarkable capabilities.

Most Apple fans are unimpressed with the iPhone 16e

Only a combined 12.4 percent of users are extremely or very impressed with the iPhone 16e. | Image Credit -- Sellcell

As such, it's certainly not shocking (or shameful for Apple) to see 30.7 percent of survey respondents declaring themselves "not at all impressed" with the 16e and a further 42.2 percent only "slightly impressed" by the $599 and up handset with a 6.1-inch screen and a single rear-facing camera in tow.

Said solo camera is actually the main reason why many owners of iPhone 15 or "older models" have no intention to switch to Apple's newest budget-friendly device, followed by the preference for a "higher-end model" regardless of pricing challenges.

Apple fans are definitely not happy with the iPhone 16e's rear camera. | Image Credit -- Sellcell

Interestingly, a good chunk of what could have been potential iPhone 16e buyers are upset with the handset's missing MagSafe compatibility (which many expected to go largely unnoticed by most "regular" users), and even more people are labeling the device as "not cheap enough to make it worthwhile over higher-end iPhone 16 models."

That sounds like the most accurate description pretty much anyone could come up with, although there are some folks who seem intent on buying the iPhone 16e in spite of all its shortcomings.

The price, battery life, and processor are the key strengths

In a way, you could call the iPhone 16e's price tag a double-edged sword, as only 8.4 percent of survey respondents consider it "fair given the improvements" of the handset but 72.3 percent of those who are planning to pick this bad boy up say they will do so primarily because it "fits their budget."

Most Apple fans are unhappy with the iPhone 16e&#039;s price

A $429 iPhone 16e would have been a dream, and a $500 or so 16e would have also been perfectly acceptable. | Image Credit -- Sellcell

Basically, the consensus seems to be that Apple could have priced the 16e more competitively, but even at $599, it's a decent deal for a reasonable number of users. Of course, the handset's affordability is not its only strong point, with the "longer" battery life following in second place, the cutting-edge A18 processor ranking third, and lengthy software support sitting in fourth place.

Battery life actually tops the list when it comes to the key factors iPhone users in general consider before upgrading to a new model, followed by camera quality, brand loyalty, and features like Dynamic Island and Apple Intelligence.

Very few people are buying the iPhone 16e for its 5G modem, screen, or Apple Intelligence support. | Image Credit -- Sellcell

Notice that the pricing enters the equation after many other elements, which kind of suggests that the iPhone 16e was doomed in the eyes of a lot of Apple fans before it even saw daylight. These are people that don't care (or care very little) about a phone's affordability, so no matter where Cupertino takes the "e" family, its top-of-the-line models are probably safe with these users.

Many of these people also seem to think that devices like the 16e are "devaluing" the iPhone brand, so it's definitely going to be interesting to see if Apple decides to bring the "separate" SE lineup back soon or follow this model up with the 17e, 18e, etc., etc.

View Full Bio

Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.