June 4, 2025 – According to recent data from Counterpoint Research, while the iPhone 16e has secured a spot among the top-selling smartphones in Europe, its early sales figures are trailing significantly behind those of Apple’s previous mid-range models.
Launched in February of this year, the iPhone 16e marks Apple’s first venture into redefining its mid-range lineup beyond the “SE” series, introducing a device with a fresh market positioning. Despite entering the top ten list of best-selling smartphones in Europe during its first full month of sales, the model’s initial market reception has fallen short of its predecessors’ performance.
In March, Counterpoint reported that the iPhone 16e ranked ninth in European smartphone sales, accounting for 8% of Apple’s total iPhone sales in the region and 2% of the overall smartphone market. It performed slightly better in Western Europe, securing the seventh position.
However, when juxtaposed with the iPhone SE series, the iPhone 16e’s debut appears lackluster. The third-generation iPhone SE, released in 2022, claimed sixth place on the European best-seller list in its first month, capturing 12% of Apple’s iPhone sales in the region. The second-generation iPhone SE, launched in 2020, fared even better, debuting at third place and securing 19% of Apple’s European iPhone sales. In comparison, the iPhone 16e’s sales have dropped by 17% compared to the 2022 iPhone SE and by 20% compared to the 2020 iPhone SE.
The primary factor contributing to the iPhone 16e’s underperformance is its higher starting price. The device commands a starting price of 699 euros in Europe, significantly higher than the 519 euros for the 2022 iPhone SE and the 479 euros for the 2020 iPhone SE.
Moreover, the mid-range smartphone market in Europe is highly competitive, with consumers increasingly price-conscious. This, coupled with the growing demand for second-hand and refurbished iPhones, has further hampered Apple’s efforts to boost sales through its new mid-range offering.
