Apple designed the base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models stronger than ever, providing fewer reasons to upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The widely anticipated iPhone SE 4, expected to launch in spring 2025, may be the reason behind Apple's decision.
The iPhone SE 4 is speculated to offer the best value ever in an SE model and could compete with the iPhone 16 in terms of features and price.
Apple strategically differentiates its product lines to encourage customers to upsell themselves, and with the upcoming iPhone SE 4, the iPhone lineup will be complete.