A leaker says that Apple's iPhone 16e failed due to poor sales, but the claim doesn't stand up to the slightest scrutiny, and ignores launch sequencing and timing.

Writing on Weibo, a Chinese social network, "Fixed Focus Digital" says that Apple's attempt to "lower prices for iPhones failed." Despite that, they also note that Apple intends to continue with plans to release the iPhone 17e.

It's expected that Apple will stick to its spring release schedule for the fledgling "e" iPhone. That means we should see the iPhone 17e around March 2026.

But it's unclear where this leaker gets their information from. They've been prolific in recent months, sharing details about the iPhone 17 lineup before its release, as well a the iPhone Fold.

Assuming it's not guesswork, It's most likely that this information comes from a small segment of Apple's supply chain.

Now is not the time to judge sales

Importantly, nobody knows whether Apple considers sales of the iPhone 16e to have "failed." The same is also true of the much maligned iPhone Air as well.

There's a lot of patterns to look at, before calling the iPhone 16e a failed product. The iPhone 16e is nearing the end of its lifecycle. It was released in February 2025, demand has slowed considerably since then, as it always does in the last few months of a product's launch year.

It has followed the same pattern as the iPhone SE line, with the exception of the first. Apple's release cadence was different when the original iPhone SE was released, so it's not a 1:1 comparison.

In fact, the spring release of Apple's budget iPhones is to fill the gap between flagship mode launches. After all, sales are normally strong following the release of a new product and continue to slow until it's replaced.

With that in mind, a mid-year release for the iPhone "e" models smooths out the iPhone's peaks and troughs. Currently, the iPhone 17 is in its peak. The iPhone 16e is in a trough.

The release of the iPhone 17 won't have helped, either. Deals on older iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models are affect buying decisions in the holiday season of 2025.

As for Apple's plans for the next year of iPhones, we expect the iPhone 17e to be released in the spring of 2026. That will be followed by the fall's unveiling of the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone.

Potential iPhone 17e buyers can look forward to the fast A19 chip and a Dynamic Island, according to previous leaks.