Curious - did not see it in the eligible trade in items. Will I have to wait for another “e” version to release? Seems a bit silly if I want to upgrade.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
Original Title: will i be able to trade in my 16e for the new 17?
iPhone 16e, iOS 18
It is clearly not a current trade option with Apple at this time. You can check with your carrier to see what offers they have, or sell your phone privately and use the funds toward the iPhone 17 model you'd like to buy.
bobjbkln wrote:
The bigger question —which I assume no one except Apple knows the answer to— is why they release the e Models on a different schedule than all their other phones (including this year, the unnumbered iPhone Air)
Even this is not such a mystery. If you look at past history, the iPhone 16e was released about the same time previous Apple Watch SE models were released. In other words, Apple has a long history of releasing the primary new iPhones in the fall and the budget iPhone (SE, which is now the 16e), in the winter and spring months. The original iPhone SE was released in March 2016. The second generation iPhone SE was released in April 2020. The third iPhone SE was released in March 2022. And this year, the iPhone 16e, which replaced the iPhone SE was released in February 2025.
1872_WATP wrote:
Why is iPhone 16e not on trade in list when iPhone 16, 16 pro etc are?
Because it's a current model iPhone and Apple doesn't accept current model phones for trade until the model is replaced with the next model. Simply said, the 16E hasn't been on the market a full year yet. I answered this just above your post.
patriciafromstirling wrote:
Hi the other iPhone 16’s can be traded in, why not 16e
It's been explained why. Read the thread before posting a question which has already been answered. It's only a one page thread.
The bigger question —which I assume no one except Apple knows the answer to— is why they release the e Models on a different schedule than all their other phones (including this year, the unnumbered iPhone Air)
bobjbkln wrote:
The bigger question —which I assume no one except Apple knows the answer to— is why they release the e Models on a different schedule than all their other phones (including this year, the unnumbered iPhone Air)
Note that the 16e uses an Apple-designed 5G modem chip. All of the other 16-series iPhones use Qualcomm modem chips.
I do not know when Apple started development of the C1 chip, or when they decided that it was ready to ship. However, if the 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max were ready to go before the C1 chip, and a 16e motherboard based on it, were, I couldn't see Apple holding up release of other 16-series phones just so the "price-point" model could be released at the same time.
makes sense - thanks. Seems strange but oh well.
Why is iPhone 16e not on trade in list when iPhone 16, 16 pro etc are?
Hi the other iPhone 16’s can be traded in, why not 16e
patriciafromstirling wrote:
Hi the other iPhone 16’s can be traded in, why not 16e
Did you bother reading the thread to which you are replying, where this has already been answered – twice?
pattymac1244 wrote:
makes sense - thanks. Seems strange but oh well.
It actually makes sense if you think about it. the iPhone 16e was introduced by Apple in February of this year. It is a current model, which is not being discontinued. And current model phones are typically not eligible for trade in. When Apple will release the next "e" model, we have no clue, but I'd be willing to bet that when they do, the current 16e will then be eligible to be traded.
Can I trade in my iPhone 16e for iPhone 17?
