Apple’s latest entry-level smartphone, the iPhone 16e, seems to be performing well for the brand, especially in China, where Apple has been losing ground to several domestic players such as Xiaomi, Vivo, and Huawei.
According to a report published by International Data Corporation (IDC) on Friday, the iPhone 16e (review) has achieved a 60 per cent stronger opening in China compared to the iPhone SE. However, this growth might not be sufficient for Apple to surpass last year’s sales in the country, as overall sales are expected to decline by two per cent.
“The competition from Android will be even stronger, bolstered by national Chinese subsidies that will benefit Android significantly more than Apple,” said Nabila Popal, IDC senior director.
Although iPhone sales fell by 11 per cent during the festive season, the company is reportedly recovering lost ground slowly but steadily in China. Apple is also expected to see a sales boost in other price-sensitive markets like India.
The iPhone 16e has replaced the third-generation iPhone SE, which was previously Apple’s most affordable smartphone. The new model starts at RS 59,900 or $599, making it slightly more expensive than the now-retired iPhone SE. At this price, several Android smartphones offer better feature sets and specifications compared to Apple’s latest offering.
Like the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e comes with the latest A18 chip, albeit with fewer GPU cores, and 8GB of RAM. It is currently the most affordable iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence. Compared to the iPhone SE, the iPhone 16e features a larger, more modern display, a USB-C port, an Action Button, a 48MP camera, and delivers the latest iOS experience expected from an iPhone.
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