Apple has stopped selling the iPhone 14 series and iPhone SE (3rd Gen) devices in most areas of the European Union (EU), after the EU passed a reform requiring tech companies to use USB-C as a charging standard.
The ruling took effect on December 28, 2024, after which Apple started pulling back its older iPhones with lightning ports from the retail and online markets.
This regulation from the EU aims towards the reduction of e-waste and simplifies charging for users by having the same USB Type-C charging port for every device such as smartphones, tablets, cameras, and other electronic devices, especially in the European market.
Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.
However, Apple was still selling its iPhone 14 series and iPhone SE (2022) with lightning ports in the EU markets.
As per the regulation, Apple cannot sell these devices in the EU region. However, third-party sellers can still sell them while their stocks last.
