Apple is set to pull the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE (3rd generation) from sale across European Union countries starting December 28, 2024, to comply with the EU’s USB-C mandate aimed at reducing electronic waste. These models, equipped with the older Lightning connector, will no longer be available in Apple Stores within the EU’s 27 member states.
The regulation, introduced in 2022, requires all phones sold in the EU to feature USB-C ports by the end of this year. While Apple initially resisted the rule, it shifted to USB-C with the iPhone 15 series and newer iPads in 2023. Resellers, however, may continue selling remaining Lightning-equipped stock.
Switzerland, which aligns with many EU laws, is expected to implement the change even earlier, potentially removing the affected iPhones from shelves as soon as December 20. Northern Ireland, though part of the UK, will also follow suit due to specific post-Brexit regulations.
