While the spring launch of the iPhone 16e is still in the air, the first concrete information about its successor is already surfacing. According to a well-known Chinese leakerand performing under the moniker Fixed Focus Digital has Apple to introduce a new one next May iPhone 17e, which should build on the success of this year's model while also directly competing with established players in the more affordable phone segment, such as Xiaomi, Redmi, or vivo.
Mentioned leaker, who correctly predicted the existence of the iPhone 16e in the past when a continuation of the SE series was widely expected, claims that Apple is slowly moving into the test production phase. While the exact unveiling date remains unknown, the current rumor is the end of May 2026.
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The “e” model strategy seems to be a hit or miss so far. iPhone The 16e, which hit the market at the end of February this year with a starting price of $599 (in the Czech Republic, CZK 16), offers a 990″ OLED display, Face ID, A18 chip and USB-C port, i.e. equipment that makes it a very attractive compromise between performance andonehas a price. And that is precisely the recipe that wants Apple repeat next year.
According to CIRP analysts, similar intergenerational models could also improve customer orientation, as customers have been searching in vain for logic in the somewhat chaotic release of SE models. If the “e” series were to become a regular part of the spring product cycle, it could Apple to benefit in the long term.
And the numbers confirm that it makes sense. According to a recent report by Counterpoint Research, AppThanks to the iPhone 16e and growing interest in emerging markets, Apple managed to dominate the first quarter of the year in the global smartphone market for the first time in history - with a share of 19%.
I've tried 4 times in a row now Iphone 16 per max..I liked the look of the phone. But the controls and functions?? 20 years behind Android ..every year they are moving away from the phone...I don't understand what anyone sees in it
If the 17e stays at a 60Hz display plus a single camera at the same prices, it has virtually no advantage over the higher-midrange Android Chinaancjust like 16e – not to mention the lower market segments.
And those who want a pure Non-China A-OS will, without hesitation, reach for both HW (except for the raw SoC performance) and SW + real AI and even a more colorful one Google Pixelfor the 9a with generally very complimentary to superlative reviews in 8/128GB for $499, in our official price 13990,- CZK.
The saddest thing is the situation with the display (unfortunately not only) 16e, where even the basic Redmi Note 14 6/128GB for just 3490 CZK (!) has: 6.67″ AMOLED, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak), 1080x2400px, 20:9, 395ppi; Always-on display.
16e: 6.10″ Super Retina XDR OLED, 60Hz, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 1170x2532px, 19.48:9, 457ppi.
Yes, the RN14 display does not have HDR, but it has 1312(!) vs 799 nits in HBM measured by GSMArena. MiniMinimum brightness 2,5 vs 2 nits with the PWM frequency being 960 :) vs 480(!!)Hz.
The RN14 display even has TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification (Hardware solution), TÜV Rheinland Circadian Friendly Certification, TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free Certification, SGS Low Blue Light Certification.
By the way, last year's RN1313 13/6GB already had a parametrically identical display (128 nits HBM measured by GSMArena) for only CZK 2990.
There's nothing to add to that..
Note on Pixel 9a:
He could not 'talk' about the Q1/25 results, because sales started only on 10.4.25 in the USA, Canada and the UK, on 14.4. it was Europe's turn, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and on 16.4. Australia, India, plus some other Asian markets and, paradoxically, Japan, which is very important in terms of sales (originally, the date of 16.4. was not even certain - it was apparently a software problem).
Regarding the last paragraph, I quote:
"And the numbers confirm that it makes sense. According to a recent Counterpoint Research report, App"Thanks to the iPhone 16e and growing interest in emerging markets, Apple managed to dominate the first quarter of the year in the global smartphone market for the first time in history - with a share of 19%."
so I highly recommend a broader explanation in the article 'Historical Success Applu! For the first time, it has the largest phone shipments in the first quarter of the year' – I quote:
"You can thank Samsung
- iPhone 16e helped maintain supplies Applu at last year's level, while Samsung continues to decline, which helped Applu for the first time to gain the position of the largest brand in the first quarter of the year.
– However, Xiaomi is also growing in third place, while vivo and OPPO still have the same market share and other smaller brands continue to grow globally.
We are used to seeing Apple at the peak of deliveries in different quarters of the year, but the first one avoided the brand. The beginning of a new year was always dull, but this year, after three years,onecheaply issued iPhone 16e and whatever you think about the phone, it was clear that the cheapest iPhone on offer Applu will help considerably. For the first time in its history, it has Apple the largest shipments of phones from all brands in the first quarter of the year.
It is important to remember that we are only talking about deliveries to store counters and the like, which cannot be completely translated into sales. After all, Counterpoint Research mentions in its report that sales of the iPhone 16e in the USA, Europe and China have been stagnant or even declining since its release, but in India, Japan and Southeast Asia, sales growth is said to be in the tens of percent. There, the cheap iPhone is doing well, as there will probably be a greater price difference between it and other Apple phones.
What is interesting, however, is that according to the year-on-year comparison Apple did not win this year due to greater user interest than before, it only profited from Samsung's constant decline by its stagnation. In 2023, it had Apple 20% of the market in the first quarter, in 2024 it fell to 19% and this year it also has 19%. In contrast, Samsung gradually fell from 21% to 18% this year. On the other hand, Xiaomi in third place is still growing and has 14% of the market at the beginning of this year. They are followed as always by the brands vivo and OPPO, which have 8% of the market, just like last year. Interestingly, other brands in the global market are also growing, which is just proof that users are getting used toone"People are not afraid to try phones from smaller manufacturers and the global market is slowly leveling off. However, the situation in the uncertain market may change significantly this year."
I would also like to add to the sales of 16e that in the first wave, it is being massively purchased globally, primarily by the corporate and institutional sector, as the first tooneIt is at least a reasonable replacement for the iP6 – SE3. Only the next quarters will show how it will actually perform in retail.
The aforementioned article also includes a Counterpoint Research market-share chart Q1/23 vs Q1/24 vs Q1/25.
As well as the percentage YoY Unit Changes, which shows that in Q1/25 the entire market grew except for Samsung's -5% and Oppo's -1%, which, however, retained at least 8% market share.
It's always good to see everything in a broader perspective and context :)