Due to European legislation, Apple plans to withdraw the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE from sale in December. These models, equipped with a Lightning port, will no longer comply with European regulations requiring USB-C on all rechargeable electronic devices from 28 December 2024.

The premature end of the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE 

From December 2024, all devices with rechargeable batteries sold in Europe will have to be compatible with USB-C. After tense negotiations, the European Union forced Apple to comply with this standard. That is why, in 2023, Apple applied the legislation well ahead of the deadline by introducing USB-C on the iPhone 15 range.

Apple. has gradually phased out the Lightning port on its products. Following the iPad and Mac, then the AirPods, accessories such as keyboards and mice have also adopted USB-C. By the end of 2024, devices still equipped with Lightning will have become rare.

To learn more about USB-C port legislation, read this article.

Because the regulation targets products on the market, not their release date, Apple must adapt its catalogue. The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone SE, as well as other models offered by certain retailers, will no longer be available for sale after 28 December.

Models already at the end of their life cycle

The discontinuation of the iPhone 14 and SE will actually have little impact on Apple.

The iPhone SE, launched in 2022 with an already outdated design inspired by the iPhone 8, was doomed to disappear. An expected update in 2025 could succeed it, adopting a design similar to the iPhone 14, a newer chip and a USB-C port. The latter would have spelled the end of the iPhone 14 anyway.

Outside Europe, Lightning models are living their last moments and are expected to be phased out by May 2025. Even Switzerland, although excluded from the European Union, will see these models disappear by the end of 2024.

What about refurbished iPhones?

Models that have CE certification and have already been sold once within the European Union are not affected and may continue to be sold.

The date of the product's first sale is the determining factor. Models already on the market before 28 December 2024 will therefore still be available on the refurbished market.

Conclusion

You will no longer be able to purchase new iPhone 14 or iPhone SE models, as these products have already been withdrawn from sale and have been absent from the brand's website since 28 December 2024.

However, you can still: