The iPhone 16e already seems to be a winner for Apple. US sales data analyzed by CIRP show the new budget iPhone accounting for 7% of sales in Q1 2025.

This is with the device only launching at the end of February. So, it spent just one month on sale during the entire quarter.

Strong start for the iPhone 16e

At $599, the iPhone 16e costs considerably more than the iPhone SE that it replaces. But for its price, it packs a lot of punch, featuring an iPhone 14-like design, an A18 chip and long battery life. It’s also the first device to launch with Apple’s in-house C1 modem, which stands out for its efficiency.

Add in the economic conditions, and it’s no surprise that Apple saw strong demand for the iPhone 16e in the US — it accounted for 7% of sales in Q1 2025 alone. This is notably higher than the demand for the iPhone SE from the same quarter last year.

CIRP‘s data suggests the entire iPhone 16 lineup accounted for 74% of the total iPhone sales in the US. But the iPhone 16e’s launch unintentionally hurt another device in Apple’s stable: the iPhone 16 Pro.

iPhone 16 Pro sales faltering?

The latter only accounted for 17% of iPhone sales during the quarter, down significantly from the iPhone 15 Pro’s 22% share in Q1 2024. Combined, the iPhone 16 Pro lineup accounted for 38% of iPhone sales in the first quarter of 2025. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro lineup made up 45% of sales in the same quarter last year.

The iPhone 16 outperformed its predecessor. It accounted for 20% of sales during the period, a 6% increase over the iPhone 15 from Q1 2024.

While the iPhone 16e’s launch played a major role, the current economic climate likely also contributed to the outcome, leading more customers to opt for the cheaper iPhone than before. Plus, the iPhone Pro series does not pack any compelling features to justify its higher price tag.