Apple discontinued the iPhone 16 Plus on September 9, 2026, the same day it introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo. Apple never gave a reason, but the picture is clear: the iPhone Air had already replaced the Plus line a year earlier, Plus models were Apple's weakest sellers, and the 16 Plus had become a poor deal next to newer iPhones at the same price.
Updated November 7, 2026.
When was the iPhone 16 Plus discontinued?
Apple removed the iPhone 16 Plus from its online store on September 9, 2026, without an announcement. The phone had launched in September 2024 alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, so it was on sale for almost exactly two years.
The same day, Apple raised prices on the iPhones it kept. Its current US lineup is the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17e and iPhone 16.
Why did Apple discontinue the iPhone 16 Plus?
Apple hasn't said. But three things explain it.
1. The iPhone Air had already taken its place. When Apple launched the iPhone 17 lineup in September 2025, there was no iPhone 17 Plus. The new, ultra-thin iPhone Air took that spot in the lineup instead. Apple kept selling the 16 Plus at a lower price, which made it the last Plus-size iPhone in Apple's store for a year. Retiring it simply finished a change Apple started in 2025.
2. Plus models didn't sell well. According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the iPhone 15 Plus made up 9% of US iPhone sales in early 2024, behind the iPhone 15 and both Pro models. In its first weeks on sale, the iPhone 16 Plus accounted for just 4% of US iPhone sales. People who wanted a big screen mostly paid for the Pro Max, and people saving money mostly bought the standard iPhone.
3. It had fallen behind. Before September 9, the iPhone 16 Plus started at $799 with 128GB of storage. That's the same price as the iPhone 17, which started with 256GB. The 16 Plus also has a standard 60Hz screen, while newer iPhones have Apple's smoother 120Hz ProMotion display. At that point, it was hard to recommend.
What replaced the iPhone 16 Plus?
The iPhone Air is the closest replacement. Here's how they compare:
- Screen: the Air has a 6.5-inch ProMotion display (up to 120Hz). The 16 Plus has a larger 6.7-inch screen at 60Hz.
- Thickness and weight: the Air is 5.64mm thick and weighs 165g. The 16 Plus is 7.80mm and 199g.
- Chip and memory: the Air has the A19 Pro chip and 12GB of RAM. The 16 Plus has the A18 and 8GB.
- Battery: Apple rates both at up to 27 hours of video playback. But the 16 Plus has a much bigger battery (4,674 mAh vs 3,149 mAh), and it charges at 25W, compared with 20W on the Air.
- Cameras: the Air has a single 48MP camera. The 16 Plus has two rear cameras, including an ultrawide.
- Price: after Apple's September 9 price increase, the iPhone Air starts at $1,099 in the US.
So the Air is newer, faster and nicer to hold, but it's a different kind of phone. The 16 Plus was the affordable big-battery iPhone. The Air is the expensive thin one.
Is the iPhone 16 Plus still worth buying?
It can be, if you find it at the right price. Apple no longer sells it new, but you can still find it refurbished, used, or as leftover stock at some retailers.
It's a good pick if you want a big screen, strong battery life and dual cameras without paying flagship prices. Just make sure the price is well below what Apple used to charge, since newer iPhones now offer more storage and a smoother screen.
If you already own one, it's still a capable phone. If you're thinking about trading it in, check the value first. Apple's trade-in offer for the iPhone 16 Plus dropped from $485 to $430 on September 9, and those values can change again without notice.
Will Apple make another iPhone Plus?
There's no sign of one. Apple has now ended the Plus line twice. The first run went from the iPhone 6 Plus in 2014 to the iPhone 8 Plus in 2017. The name came back with the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022 and lasted through the iPhone 15 Plus and 16 Plus. With the iPhone Air in its place, Apple isn't expected to release another Plus model in the foreseeable future.
My take
As an iPhone 15 Plus owner, I think the iPhone 16 Plus was a solid phone. It got a real redesign, it brought the Action button to a mid-range iPhone for the first time, and it came in some of my favourite iPhone colours. The downside is that the iPhone Air took its place, and the 16 Plus just wasn't selling much.
The bottom line
The iPhone 16 Plus wasn't a bad phone. It was a phone Apple had already moved on from. If you want a big iPhone today, your new options are the iPhone Air or the iPhone 18 Pro Max. If price matters most, a refurbished or used 16 Plus is still worth a look.
Sources: The Mac Observer, Appleosophy, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, MacRumors (CIRP), GSMArena, GB News, iGeeksBlog, Android Headlines
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