As of today, the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and third-generation iPhone SE are no longer available for purchase in most countries within the European Union. This change was anticipated following the EU’s new guidelines that mandated all mobile devices to adopt USB-C charging standards.
You will not find these models for sale online in multiple EU countries, including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and others, as reported by MacRumors. The iPhone 14 series was the last to utilize Lightning cables, so instead of refreshing an outdated model, Apple opted to remove these devices from the market entirely.
However, these phones remain available for sale in the United Kingdom, as it is not part of the EU following its exit in 2020. Apple started limiting their availability in stores last week, but you might still encounter an occasional iPhone 14 in an Apple Store or from certified retailers. Additionally, since the iPhone SE still relies on Lightning chargers, it too has been discontinued. Nevertheless, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch in the coming months, likely incorporating US-C charging.
In October, the European Parliament voted to harmonize charging solutions across all devices. This means that laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets must adopt a standard USB-C plug, and devices capable of 100W power delivery will also need to comply with this standard. The deadline for implementing this change is the end of the year, and Apple is making the transition just in time with only four days to spare.
“The common charger will finally become a reality in Europe,” noted Parliament rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba. By standardizing charging options, the EU aims to strengthen consumer protections and enhance convenience for users.
