New data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) suggests Apple’s recenty-released iPhone 16e has hit the ground running, capturing 7% of U.S. iPhone sales in its first partial quarter of availability. The new lower-priced handset outperformed the sales of its predecessor, the iPhone SE 3, from the same quarter in 2024.
Apple’s entire iPhone 16 lineup, which is made up of five different models, including the iPhone 16e, accounted for 74% of total U.S. iPhone sales in the March 2025 quarter. The four iPhone 15 models available during the same period in 2024 held a 68% share.
While the iPhone 16e definitely contributed to the increase in market share, other iPhone 16 models showed an increase in sales, although some models saw sales decline. The standard iPhone 16 grabbed 20% of sales, up from the 14% share for the iPhone 15 the previous year.
However, Apple’s high-end models experienced an unexpected decline in market share. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max together accounted for 38% of iPhone sales, down from 45% for the iPhone 15 Pro models a year earlier. The iPhone 16 Pro’s share alone dropped from 22% to 17% market share.
CIRP’s number indicate that Apple’s upgrading its low and mid-range handsets is paying off, although the company would likely rather see the high-end handsets performing better.
Meanwhile, the 16e appears to be attracting buyers who previously might have purchased older models.
Sales of legacy iPhones – defined as models more than a year old – in the U.S. fell to 26% of sales, down from 32% the year before.
