‘Dried out’ iPhone 16e inventory factors to imminent launch of 17e

It’s an open secret that Apple is on the verge of launching the iPhone 17e. One idea is that it is going to be launched as quickly as subsequent week on the primary anniversary of its predecessor’s launch. And based mostly on new details about Apple’s inventory ranges, that sounds about proper.

In line with a publish on Twitter/X by the widely dependable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, citing the testimony of unnamed Apple retail workers, the stock of the iPhone 16e “has mainly dried out.” Inventory shortages are sometimes an indication {that a} product is about to be discontinued, most certainly to get replaced by one thing new. Apple is well-known for its supply-chain effectivity and habitually winds down manufacturing close to the tip of a product’s life with a view to keep away from being caught with outdated inventory after it’s killed off.

I checked on-line (utilizing the U.Ok. Apple Retailer, since I’m based mostly in London) and was capable of purchase the 16e in white with 128GB of storage for supply or pickup tomorrow, and the black mannequin for supply tomorrow or pickup as we speak. In truth, I couldn’t discover a single configuration that may arrive later than the day after buy. I additionally took a fast peek on the U.S. retailer, utilizing the White Home zip code for supply estimates, and the one fashions I had any points with had been the 512GB items in each black and white, neither of which is at present out there for pickup on the president’s native retailer. However they may nonetheless be delivered to the Oval Workplace by tomorrow.

So there are iPhone 16e items on the market. Nevertheless it’s potential that what little inventory Apple has remaining has been largely assigned to on-line purchases, since it will favor workers to divert in-store guests to dearer merchandise just like the iPhone 17.

The iPhone 17e might be some of the necessary merchandise Apple will launch in 2026, as a result of the e-class iPhones are the one ones which might be even remotely near the funds market. The iPhone 16e got here in for criticism as a result of it was considerably dearer than the ultimate iPhone SE, whereas nonetheless together with quite a few compromises in areas reminiscent of the shortage of MagSafe and a second digicam. The iPhone 17e is unlikely to value lower than the 16e, however it ought to at the least provide MagSafe.

Gurman provides that the iPad Air can be experiencing inventory shortages, though it’s implied that these aren’t as extreme as these affecting the iPhone 16e. The 2026 iPad Air can be anticipated to reach quickly, that includes an M4 processor, an N1 wi-fi chip, and possibly only a few different adjustments.