A new report claims that both iPhone 16e and iPad Air inventories are dwindling at retail, possibly fueling expectations for the new models to launch soon.
There are regular reports of Apple devices running out of stock, and this is often assumed to mean an update is on the way. That hasn’t been the case recently – reports of custom MacBook Pro configurations running out of stock have been prevalent for months, and Apple TV hardware is subject to the same from time to time.
In this case, however, a new claim under BloombergMark Gurman chimes in on the news that Apple will soon release an updated iPhone 17e.
Apple retail staff say iPhone 16e stock has essentially dried up, and the iPad Air is also experiencing shortages. I expected new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks. https://t.co/yOPuN4QAzM
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 12, 2026
The report said the information came from Apple Store retail employees. IN AppleInsider survey on Thursday morning, however, all configurations of the iPhone 16e and iPad Air bar, several of them, remain available for pickup at retail locations with a maximum one-day delay.
Inventory levels have not been a reliable guide to releases over several days recently, as they can reflect other issues such as fluctuations in the supply chain. Apple has also never shied away from selling an old model until the new one is actually in stock, thus avoiding the Osbourne effect.
However, Apple is also superbly organized and as such tries to never let inventory build up too far. So if Apple doesn’t believe it can sell the device before the refresh, it won’t order another old version.
What will happen next?
February 19, 2026 marks one year since the launch of the iPhone 16e, a relatively inexpensive iPhone that remains a solid buy for many users. In addition to consistent reports that its replacement iPhone 17e will launch in spring 2026, there have been rumors that it will be announced around the same day in February.
Whenever it arrives, the iPhone 17e is expected to feature the same A19 processor used in the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup for 2025. It’s also expected to feature updated versions of Apple’s own modem and wireless processors.
The most obvious change, if the rumors are correct, is that this model should add MagSafe charging. The lack of it used to be the most obvious difference between the iPhone 16e and all the more expensive models.
While there have also been rumors of an updated iPad Air launching in spring 2026, there’s less news about what the new models might bring. It’s possible that both sizes of iPad Air will include Apple’s N1 network chip for faster Wi-Fi speeds.