Apple will reportedly stop selling the iPhone SE (3rd gen) and iPhone 14 in the EU by the end of this year. It will do this to comply with the EU’s directive, which mandates all smartphones to use USB-C for charging.
Apple only switched to USB-C on its smartphone lineup with the iPhone 15’s launch in 2023.
Apple cannot sell iPhones with Lightning connector in the EU
The European Parliament voted in October 2022 to make USB-C the standard charging port across a variety of consumer devices, including headphones, tablets, cameras, and phones. It made this move to reduce e-waste, benefitting consumers and the environment. The EU then gave Apple and other companies until the end of 2024 to adhere to the new law.
The European Union first proposed making USB-C mandatory for consumer devices in September 2021.
With just a couple of weeks left before the law goes into effect, Apple continues selling the iPhone SE (3rd gen) and iPhone 14 with Lightning port in the EU. To comply with the directive, it will supposedly soon stop selling these phones in the European Union through its online and retail stores, reports iGeneration. Apple can continue selling the iPhone 14 in other markets worldwide without issues. This move will also not affect existing iPhone 14 or iPhone SE users in any way.
Rumors point to the 2025 iPhone SE launching in spring 2025. It will switch to USB-C and pack other big upgrades. This includes an iPhone 14-like design and Apple’s in-house 5G modem.
EU wants to make battery replacements easier, too
Thanks to the EU’s pressure, Apple has switched entirely to USB-C across all its devices. It even updated the AirPods Max earlier this year with USB-C.
The European Parliament is forcing Apple and other companies to make battery replacement easier on their devices as well. It passed a law in June 2023, mandating manufacturers to make devices “that consumers can themselves easily remove and replace them.”
