The iPhone 16 Pro unexpectedly lost ground in Apple’s U.S. sales this quarter, according to new data from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP). While the premium Pro Max model held steady, the smaller Pro version saw a sharp drop, falling from 22% of iPhone sales last year to just 17% this quarter.

　Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 16 surged in popularity, capturing 20% of sales compared to 14% for its predecessor, the iPhone 15, during the same period last year. Combined sales of the Pro and Pro Max models fell to 38% of total iPhone purchases, down from 45% a year earlier.

　“The base iPhone 16 is pulling buyers away from the Pro,” said CIRP analysts Michael Levin and Josh Lowitz. The shift comes as Apple’s budget-friendly iPhone 16e enters the market, potentially pressuring customers to opt for cheaper options amid broader economic concerns.

　One user comment on the report noted: “People aren’t splurging like before. With prices rising everywhere, the regular iPhone 16 feels like a safer bet.”

　Apple’s strategy to boost the appeal of its standard model appears to be working. The company now faces questions about how its upcoming iPhone 17 Air, expected later this year, might reshape demand for high-end devices.