Massive modifications are taking place to older iPhones in Europe, as they’re now actually a factor of the previous. Apple has stopped promoting the iPhone 14 sequence and the third-generation (2022) iPhone SE in its on-line shops throughout many of the European Union (EU). That is due to a rule that claims all new smartphones bought within the EU will need to have a USB-C charging port.You will need to know what USB-C is by now, as that is what most smartphones use lately, however simply in case I will clarify that USB-C is a sort of charging port that’s turning into more and more widespread on many gadgets. Apple had been utilizing its personal kind of charging port known as Lightning on iPhones for a few years, however the EU needs to standardize charging ports to make issues simpler for shoppers and scale back digital waste. This is without doubt one of the many explanation why Apple lastly switched to USB-C on iPhones again in 2023 with the discharge of the iPhone 15 sequence.
Nevertheless, this new rule, which went into impact on December 28, 2023, additionally signifies that any iPhones bought after this date — even older fashions — will need to have a USB-C port. Whereas the newest iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 fashions have already got USB-C ports, the iPhone 14 Professional, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14, and the present iPhone SE nonetheless use the older Lightning port.
iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14. | Picture credit score — PhoneArena
The UK (UK), which left the EU in 2020, just isn’t affected by this variation. Nevertheless, Northern Eire, which continues to be a part of the EU’s single market, is included on this change. Apple began eradicating these iPhone fashions from its EU on-line shops final week, and it’s anticipated that these fashions can even disappear from bodily Apple Shops and different approved sellers within the coming days.
Hopefully, the rumors that Apple can be asserting a brand new model of the iPhone SE with a USB-C port in March transform true. As for the iPhone 14 sequence, it was doubtless going to be discontinued later this yr anyway, so this simply accelerates their retirement a bit. Farewell, Lightning.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how this impacts Apple’s gross sales in Europe, if in any respect. Now that Apple’s newer fashions are geared up with USB-C, we lastly have a standardized charging port that we are able to use with most of our know-how. Now, let’s examine about eliminating Micro USB as soon as and for all, please.