Three popular iPhones have been discontinued following the unveiling of the controversial iPhone SE 4
- The new iPhone 16e is finally here
- This means three older models have just been discontinued
- Parts and updates for these models will remain available for the next 7 years
Published on Feb 20, 2025 at 6:08 AM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Feb 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The new iPhone SE 4, or iPhone 16e as Apple calls it now, is finally here.
This is good news if you’ve been waiting for it, but bad news for at least two reasons.
The first reason is the iPhone 16e is more expensive than people anticipated.
The second reason is this means three very popular iPhone models have now been discontinued.
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Say goodbye to these three models
After launching the iPhone 16e/SE 4, Apple decided to discontinue its direct predecessor, the SE 3, and also the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.
This means the clock just started ticking if you happen to own one of these devices due to the company’s policy when it comes to older iPhones.
After being discontinued, an older iPhone is considered ‘vintage’ for five years, and then ‘obsolete’ after seven years.
In practical terms, this means you will still be able to get parts and updates for the iPhone 14, 14 Plus and SE 3 for the next seven years.
With this strategy, iPhones tend to retain a relatively long shelf life.
After all, the iPhone 6 Plus, a phone that was launched over a decade ago, only became ‘obsolete’ last year.
So the clock is ticking, but there’s still a lot of time of left on it.
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About the new iPhone 16e
The new iPhone 16e, formerly known as SE 4, was launched on February 19 with two key selling points.
For starters, this is Apple’s first new design for an iPhone in a very long time.
The previous SE 2 and 3 were just iPhone 8s with new software, and every other phone since the iPhone 12 has been broadly the same, with similar camera bumps and the same shell.
By contrast, the new 16e really is totally new in terms of its design, and it’s equipped with the A18 chip, which means it supports Apple Intelligence, which is one of the main (indirect) reasons the Apple car idea died.
The one thing people aren’t really digesting is the price.
The old iPhone SE cost $429, and so everyone was expecting this one to cost roughly the same.
But nope, it starts at $599.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
