The Cupertino giant decided to drastically restructure its assembly lines, decreeing the end of manufacturing three cell phones well known to the public. From now on, the iPhone 14 devices, its iPhone 14 Plus variant and the third generation iPhone SE will no longer be officially produced. This commercial maneuver is part of the manufacturer’s unprecedented plan to streamline its catalog and direct all manufacturing efforts towards high-tech components.

The central objective of this change is to facilitate the end customer’s choice, pushing consumers towards newer equipment with superior processors. This market redirection highlights the company’s new phase, which is now betting all its money on artificial intelligence tools, requiring an internal architecture that is much more powerful than that found in past generations.

The interruption in factories directly affects a legion of people who still use these phones on a daily basis or who were planning to purchase them soon. Although cell phones will continue to operate perfectly and have guaranteed security packages for a long time, they will be left out of the brand’s next major software revolutions, definitively sealing the end of their cycles of relevance.

Which devices were discarded from the official catalog

Presented to the world in 2022, the standard and Plus editions of the 14 line arrived on shelves equipped with the A15 Bionic chip, the same electronic brain that already equipped the 13 Pro version the previous year. Despite delivering commendable fluidity and a competent dual photographic set, the absence of visual innovations such as the Dynamic Island and the insistence on the Lightning port left these devices in an unfavorable commercial position after the arrival of the iPhone 15 family. Removing these options from stores paves the way for the most recent launches to take over as the entry point into the premium segment.

More on this story: Apple halts production of iPhones 14 and SE to focus on artificial intelligence

The other discontinued device, the third-generation iPhone SE, also revealed in 2022, served as the cheapest access ticket to the Apple ecosystem, combining the classic casing of the old iPhone 8 with the fast performance of the A15 Bionic processor. The proposal was to deliver speed at a lower cost, but the thick edges and reduced display lost their appeal in a scenario dominated by immersive panels. The end of this edition raises doubts about how the manufacturer will deal with the public with lower purchasing power in the coming years.

The technical reasons that forced the change of route

The big catalyst for this shelf cleaning goes by the name of Apple Intelligence, the new suite of tools based on machine learning. Such features require extreme neural processing capacity and, mainly, a RAM memory of at least 8 GB, technical specifications that the A15 Bionic chip present in the discontinued trio cannot offer efficiently. The manufacturer has already made it clear that only the A17 Pro architecture, or higher versions, has the power to run the system natively and without choking.

By eliminating equipment based on the A15, the company establishes a new technological floor for its products. This ensures that any new buyer enters a digital environment already prepared for the innovations that will dictate the pace of the operating system in the next decade, shielding the brand from complaints about slowdowns or crashes on older cell phones when trying to perform complex tasks.

From a financial point of view, the measure works as a lever to boost the exit of more expensive goods, such as the 15 series and future announcements. Without so many intermediate alternatives on storefronts, customers looking to change cell phones end up being naturally attracted to models that already feature the universal USB-C connector, improved photographic lenses and the guarantee of compatibility with new artificial intelligence.

On the operational side, reducing the number of available options relieves pressure on supply chains and facilitates advertising campaigns. By focusing on a reduced number of variants, assembly lines operate more fluidly and salespeople are able to explain the advantages of products more clearly, consolidating the corporation’s reputation as a leader in digital pioneering.

What changes for those who already have the affected cell phones

For the immense customer base that carries an iPhone 14, 14 Plus or SE 3 in their pocket, the announcement does not decree the sudden death of the devices. The company’s track record shows a long commitment to patch updates. The expectation is that these phones will continue to receive packages against security flaws for another three or four years, maintaining normal access to platforms such as iCloud, App Store and Apple Music. The real weight of this decision will be felt in the absence of new features, as the next versions of the operating system will leave these models out of the generative news. This technological gap between the old and new generations will cause the resale value of these devices to plummet on the used market, forcing owners to change devices in advance so as not to become stagnant.

Learn more: Apple halts production of iPhones 14 and SE to focus on artificial intelligence

The impact of artificial intelligence on the operating system

The removal of these three cell phones is closely linked to what engineers project for the future of the brand’s software. The Apple Intelligence suite is internally treated as the biggest interaction leap ever created by the company, embedding text and image creation algorithms directly into everyday applications such as the email client, the default messenger and the photo gallery.

This profound transformation requires dedicated neural engines that older cards do not have. By restricting the use of these tools to high-end phones, the corporation not only ensures that everything works instantly, but also creates an irrefutable selling point, transforming intelligent automation into a luxury item exclusive to its most expensive products.

Looking ahead, this tactic should standardize the way people use their phones, making Apple’s virtual environment even more closed and interdependent. The trend is for all upcoming launches, regardless of category, to be designed from the drawing board with artificial intelligence acting as the heart of the device.

Paths for those looking to change devices now

If the consumer was caught off guard by the end of production and needs a new cell phone, the most logical path within the ecosystem is to migrate to the iPhone 15 family. These devices already deliver a considerable leap in usability, incorporating direct advantages into the routine:

• The interactive cutout at the top of the screen, known commercially as Dynamic Island.
• An updated main photo sensor for 48 megapixel captures.
• The long-awaited USB-C input, which facilitates the use of universal cables and improves connectivity.

Another smart strategy is to hold on to the money for a few more months. With the imminent arrival of a new generation on the market, current versions tend to suffer significant price cuts at retailers, becoming excellent cost-benefit options for those who demand cutting-edge technology and longevity of updates without paying the launch price.

On the same topic: Apple declares the end of production of three iPhone models next year

Expiry date of the system and security packages

The Californian manufacturer’s support standard usually covers a period of five to six years of complete system renewals, starting from the year of launch. Following this math, 2022 phones equipped with the A15 Bionic processor should stop receiving iOS’s big numerical changes between the years 2027 and 2028.

After overcoming this time barrier, the devices enter a basic maintenance phase, receiving only small patches against cyber intrusions. This predictable schedule is