Apple has reportedly stopped selling the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE in several EU countries. The trio of iPhone models has been removed from the European Union (EU) online stores to comply with a law.
In case you are not aware, the EU passed a law in 2022 that mandates all devices with wired charging, which includes iPhones also, must have a USB-C port to be sold in the region. This law aims to reduce electronic waste and allow consumers to use one charger for many different devices so they won’t need a new charger every time they buy something new.
iPhone 14 and iPhone SE are no longer available in EU countries
According to a report from MacRumors, Apple has removed the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and third-generation iPhone SE from its online stores in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and most other EU countries.
The law applies to all phones sold from December 28th onwards, even if the models are older. These iPhones still have the Lightning port, which doesn’t comply with the regulation. Notably, this regulation does not affect the UK because it is no longer part of the EU.
Last week, Apple began removing the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE from its online stores in the EU. As the law takes effect, now the company has removed these models from several EU stores. The company is doing this to adhere to new rules under EU law. Some physical stores may still have a limited stock of such models. Once sold out, Apple will no longer sell those iPhones in EU countries.
What’s next for Apple in the EU?
Apple will reportedly launch a fourth-generation iPhone SE in March 2025. The new iPhone SE will have a USB-C port, which will fall in line with the EU regulation. So, the new iPhone SE will likely be available in Apple’s online stores in EU countries.
Apple has already equipped its newer models, like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, with USB-C ports. So, these models are still available in the EU. Apple has also updated most of its accessories, including popular products such as AirPods and Magic Mouse, replacing their old charging ports with USB-C to meet the new standard.
2024-12-29 15:04:49