
Starting today, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and the third-generation iPhone SE are no longer available for purchase in most European Union countries. This follows new EU regulations requiring all mobile devices to use USB-C chargers instead of Lightning cables.
As a result, these models have been pulled from sale in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and others, as reported by MacRumors. The iPhone 14 series was the last to feature the Lightning port, and instead of upgrading these older models, Apple decided to discontinue them in the EU.
However, these phones are still available for sale in the UK, as it left the EU in 2020. While Apple began reducing stock in stores last week, you may still find an occasional iPhone 14 in Apple Stores or with authorized retailers. The iPhone SE, which also uses a Lightning charger, has also been discontinued in most EU countries. That said, the iPhone SE 4, expected to be released in the next few months, will likely adopt the USB-C standard.
This move comes after the European Union Parliament’s October vote to standardize charging across all devices. From now on, phones, laptops, tablets, and other gadgets must use a USB-C plug, and devices drawing up to 100W of power delivery must comply with this standard. The deadline for the change is the end of this year, and Apple is making the switch just in time, with only four days to spare.
“The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe,” said Alex Agius Saliba, the Parliament rapporteur. This change will simplify charging for consumers and help reinforce consumer protections by having a single, standardized charging solution for most devices.