Apple may stop selling iPhone SE and iPhone 14 in the EU

French smartphone media iGeneration has reported that Apple will stop selling the iPhone SE and iPhone 14/14 Plus in the EU.

USB-C : Apple va arrêter la vente des iPhone SE et iPhone 14 dans l'Union européenne - iGeneration
https://www.igen.fr/iphone/2024/12/apple-va-arreter-la-vente-des-iphone-se-et-iphone-14-dans-lunion-europeenne-147523

Apple may halt iPhone 14 and SE sales in EU by year's end
https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/12/14/apple-may-discontinue-current-iphone-se-iphone-14-models-in-eu

According to information obtained exclusively by iGeneration, Apple plans to remove the third-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus from its online and retail stores in the EU.

iGeneration cites a law passed in the EU in 2022 that requires all smartphones, tablets, and cameras released in the EU to be equipped with USB-C ports as the reason for Apple's decision to stop selling these models in the EU. iGeneration claims that Apple is trying to stop selling the third-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus, which are equipped with Lightning ports, in order to comply with EU law.

EU passes bill to make USB Type-C compatible for all smartphones, including iPhones - GIGAZINE

AppleInsider, which covers Apple-related news, noted that there is a high possibility that Apple will stop selling the third-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus in the EU, but pointed out that the reason for this is not 'EU laws mandating the inclusion of USB-C ports.'

According to AppleInsider, the EU's USB-C port law does not prohibit older smartphones designed before the law came into force from being sold with charging ports other than USB-C, nor does it prohibit resellers from selling iPhones, but rather only applies to smartphones designed after the law was passed.

AppleInsider speculates that the reason Apple will stop selling the third-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus in the EU is because it wants to be able to run Apple Intelligence on almost all iPhones sold in 2025. At the time of writing, Apple Intelligence is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 series.

Apple executive explains why 'Apple Intelligence requires iPhone 15 Pro or later' - GIGAZINE

Apple is rumored to be releasing the fourth-generation iPhone SE in the first half of 2025, which may also be why the third-generation iPhone SE is being halted in the EU.

Will the 4th generation iPhone SE without the home button be released in 2025?

Apple plans to roll out Apple Intelligence through updates to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS at least in the first half of 2025, and it is rumored that the fourth-generation iPhone SE may also support Apple Intelligence. Therefore, AppleInsider points out that canceling sales of the cheaper third-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus could boost sales of the fourth-generation iPhone SE and iPhone 17 series to be sold in 2025.

Will the iPhone lineup be revamped in 2025, the Plus model will be discontinued, and the ultra-thin 'Air' model will appear? What will the specs of the Air model be? - GIGAZINE