In the EU, Apple will soon sell only iPhones with USB-C. The manufacturer is following the EU directive and radio system legislation for a uniform charging connection which has been adapted accordingly in Germany. Shortly after the Christmas holidays, Apple no longer sells any iPhone with a Lightning port – neither new nor refurbished. The company on Thursday confirmed previous reports of it ceasing sales of older iPhones.
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iPhone 14, 14 Plus and SE still have a Lightning port
Notably, the iPhone 14, 14 Plus and iPhone SE will disappear from Apple’s portfolio. The iPhone 15, the first iPhone with a USB-C port, is available. As of Thursday afternoon, Lightning models can be found unchanged in the manufacturer’s online store.
In parallel with the latest iPhones – currently the iPhone 16 series – Apple usually resells the two previous model generations for less than 100 euros. Outside the EU, the iPhone 14 should be available from Apple by autumn 2025. The entry-level iPhone SE is considered outdated, with the iPhone SE 4 with a larger display and USB-C expected to arrive in spring 2025.
Lightning iPhones, including older model generations such as the iPhone 13, are likely to be found in German stores. Different requirements apply to retailers regarding the same charging standard for goods already placed on the EU market before they can be sold.
App Store: Nearly half of revenue comes from subscriptionsUSB-C has been in MacBooks since 2015
In addition to smartphones, the USB-C requirement also applies to digital cameras, headphones, tablets, mobile game consoles, keyboards, e-readers, headsets, and portable speakers. The deadline is December 28, 2024; The transition period until April 2026 applies only to laptops.
Apple was the last and only major smartphone maker to buck the industry trend toward USB-C for a long time. The company was a USB-C pioneer with its MacBooks; Laptops switched to a relatively new interface for all ports in one fell swoop in early 2015.
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