Apple Discontinues Lightning Port: The Shift to USB-C is Complete
Apple has officially phased out the Lightning port with the release of the new iPhone 16e. Alongside this launch, the company has discontinued the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE—the last two models that still featured the Lightning connector.
Now, all current iPhones in Apple’s lineup, including the iPhone 16e, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16, come with USB-C ports. While refurbished iPhones with Lightning ports are still available, Apple’s primary website and retail locations now exclusively stock USB-C models.
This transition began with the launch of the iPhone 15 in 2023, and in less than two years, Apple has completed its shift to USB-C connectivity across its iPhone lineup. The iPad lineup has already undergone this shift to USB-C, leaving no current iPhones, iPads, or Macs using the Lightning port.
Although Lightning is nearly phased out, Apple continues to sell a few legacy products, such as the original Apple Pencil and some Lightning-based cables and accessories. For now, these items are still available, but the days of the Lightning connector are clearly numbered.
With this transition, Apple has entered a new era of connectivity, simplifying the experience for users with a unified USB-C standard across its devices.
