Apple’s latest mid-tier iPhone 16e has managed to secure a spot at number nine in Europe’s top 10 best-selling smartphones list, despite initial concerns over its high starting price. Despite this, the model secured a 2% market share in March 2025, with sales slightly lower than those of its predecessor, the 2022 iPhone SE and 2020 iPhone SE.
The flagship models, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, took the top two spots, while Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S25 secured a 3% share each. Apple’s mid-tier model accounts for only 5% of total sales. The high starting price was attributed to criticism from experts like Jan Stryjak at Counterpoint Research.
In contrast, Samsung offered mid-range options that catered to consumers’ needs, with both the Galaxy A55 and Galaxy A16 5G making it into Europe’s top-10 list. This showcases that European markets are open to premium and affordable smartphones as long as prices match consumer expectations.
The iPhone 16e launch came with Apple’s in-house C1 5G modem, aiming to reduce dependency on Qualcomm. According to a previous estimate by Counterpoint Research, the model features 40% parts belonging to Apple, resulting in $10 per unit bill reduction. However, despite this cost-saving advantage, the high starting price could remain a barrier for European consumers.
Source: https://wccftech.com/iphone-16e-secures-ninth-place-in-best-selling-smartphones-in-europe