What’s happened? Apple’s latest “affordable” iPhones are not landing the way it wanted. Both the iPhone Air and iPhone 16e are reportedly struggling, even though they’re built with modern chips, OLED displays, and competent cameras.
- According to leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the iPhone Air and iPhone 16e are “not selling very well,” and Apple’s attempt to push the iPhone to a lower price point has “failed again.”
- The iPhone 16e launched earlier this year at $599 with an A18 chip, OLED display, C1 modem, and a 48 megapixel camera, but its sales performance stayed mostly under the radar until now.
- The iPhone Air has been more openly treated as a weak seller. Even so, successors are still planned. iPhone 17e is expected in spring 2026, while iPhone Air 2 is rumored to add a second rear camera.
This is important because: If two of Apple’s cheaper iPhones are already being framed as misses, it shows how hard it is for the company to stretch its lineup downward without cannibalizing the main models. Most buyers still seem happier paying more for a regular iPhone 17.
- Demand for the iPhone 17 lineup is growing, with production orders increasing, while iPhone 16e and iPhone Air appear to lag behind, which makes them feel more like side projects than pillars.
- With iPhone 17e and iPhone Air 2 still on the roadmap, Apple now has to figure out how to give these models a clearer identity so they don’t just look like watered down versions of the phones most people actually buy.
Why should I care? If you were planning to save a bit with one of these phones, it’s worth knowing they might not get the same spotlight as the rest of the lineup. That can affect everything from accessories to how well they hold their value.
- Softer sales can translate into less shelf space, fewer carrier promos, and less marketing love for 16e and Air, which can make them harder to find and easier to ignore.
- Resale prices tend to follow demand, so a slow selling 16e or Air may lose value faster than a more popular iPhone 17 variant.
Okay, so what’s next? If you’re shopping now, it makes sense to treat 16e and Air as very specific choices and not the default you recommend to everyone. They still have real strengths, but they need to beat other iPhones first.
- Start by comparing iPhone 16e and iPhone Air directly with the standard iPhone 17 on display quality, cameras, and battery life, then decide if the savings or form factor actually matter to how you use a phone every day.
- Compare the budget phones to the flagships and decide for yourself what the best iPhone is.
