iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus
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Apple has removed the iPhone 14 and third-generation iPhone SE from its online Apple Store in several EU countries, all of which must comply incoming charger rules.
Earlier in December, there were rumors that Apple would stop selling the iPhone 14 generation of devices, as well as the current iPhone SE, in the European Union by the end of 2024. Two weeks later, that became reality.
The online version of the Apple Store, which covers many EU territories, now does not have either the iPhone 14 or the iPhone SE. The top menu of the iPhone section of Apple's regional website now does not have anything between the iPhone 15 and the comparison options in the affected countries, skipping those where the iPhone 14 and SE used to be.
The list of affected countries, verified by AppleInsider, includes France, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and Sweden, among other countries in the bloc. While the UK is unaffected and still lists the models, Ireland does not.
Apple has not provided an official explanation for the removal of the models, but it is widely believed that the change is due to regulations set to come into force in early 2025.
In October 2022, EU Council ministers finalized the approval process for a general charger directive that will require smartphones, tablets, and headphones to be sold with USB-C ports in 2024. The directive aims to make it easier for consumers to get the right charger for their equipment and to minimize e-waste.
By stopping sales of models with a Lightning connector at the end of the year, Apple is now in compliance with the directive in the affected countries just in time for the end of the year.
Not the entire block
The regulation does not prohibit the sale of older smartphones designed before the regulation was introduced, only those designed after it was adopted. In theory, this could mean that Apple could legally sell older iPhone models with a Lightning connector without falling under the law.
The rules also do not affect resellers, who will be able to continue selling discontinued models as long as they still have available stock. New shipments of Apple models will not be allowed.
It won't change anything in the secondary market either, as it will apply to new device sales.
In other countries where sales are still ongoing, it won't necessarily be a factor for long. In October, the UK government was considering reconsidering the charger regulation.
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