Apple has officially stopped selling new iPhones with Lightning ports, marking the end of an era.
With the launch of the iPhone 16E and the removal of the iPhone 14 and third-generation iPhone SE from its website, all new iPhones now come equipped with a USB-C port. This long-awaited transition finally unifies Apple’s charging standard with other modern devices.
The shift to USB-C has been a gradual process. Apple first introduced the Lightning port over a decade ago with the iPhone 5, but in recent years, it has been phasing it out across its product lineup. Many iPads and accessories, including the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and even the Siri Remote for Apple TV, have already made the switch.
Despite this transition, Apple still sells a few Lightning-based accessories, such as the first-generation Apple Pencil and certain adapters. However, with the company fully embracing USB-C for its latest iPhones, it’s clear that Lightning is on its way out.
For those still holding onto older iPhones with Lightning ports—like the iPhone 12 Mini—it might finally be time to make the jump to a USB-C model. And with Apple’s latest lineup, there are now plenty of options to choose from.
