5 products Apple silently scrapped while unveiling the iPhone 16e this week

Apple this week launched one big thing and removed five smaller things in the process. With the unveiling of the new iPhone 16e, the company's entry-level handset that brings modernized processing power and AI capabilities downmarket, Apple also did away with several familiar products and services -- some more obvious than others.

Also: What does the 'e' in iPhone 16e stand for?

These five products weren't sacrifices per se, but their removal was integral to streamlining the overall iPhone experience. Here's the list and how they all contribute to a more consistent and uniform 2025 iPhone lineup.

1. iPhone 14 series

Whenever a new iPhone launches, an older generation model almost always gets a price drop or is discontinued. With the unveiling of the iPhone 16e, the now three-year-old iPhone 14 series just got the boot, and you likely won't miss it. 

When we reviewed the iPhone 14 series in 2022, ZDNET editor-in-chief Jason Hiner and I found its newest features, such as the always-on display and switch to eSIM support, to be lacking. In some ways, the changes that the iPhone 14 had introduced at the time made it more difficult for consumers to decide if upgrading to the latest device was a sensible choice. 

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It didn't help that Apple retained the Lightning port, which was already beginning to be phased out across other devices like iPads and MacBooks. With both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus removed from the Apple store, the iPhone 16e is now the definitive choice for shoppers on a budget.

2. Lightning ports on iPhones

USB-C is the way, and it's here to stay. Apple's removal of both the iPhone 14 models and the iPhone SE (2022) officially marks the end of Lightning ports on iPhones.

Unless you're buying from Apple's refurbished section, any iPhone you buy from the official website and store will now come with a USB-C port. That's great news for folks who enjoy uniformity, convenience, and not having to ask around for a spare Lightning cable when at the office.

3. Product Red colorways

It isn't official, but the writing's been on the wall for some time now. Over the past three years, Apple has seemingly done away with Product Red integrations. Before that, the polarizing red-themed devices and cases contributed to funding HIV/AIDS research. They also just looked really good (see image above).

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Ironically, the aforementioned iPhone models that Apple removed in light of the iPhone 16e unveiling were the most recent devices to feature Product Red branding. With the company sticking to White and Black finishes for the iPhone 16e -- and no eye-catching red protective case in sight -- I wouldn't bet on anything else to come in the foreseeable future.

4. 'SE' branding is out, 'e' branding is in

Apple first introduced the iPhone SE branding in 2016, positioning the Special Edition variants as lower-cost handsets that offered sufficient performance. While that approach to product philosophy still holds with the iPhone 16e, it's the switch-up from SE branding to just "e" that may raise some eyebrows.

ZDNET's Lance Whitney pulled out the investigation board earlier this week to decipher the new naming scheme -- my money is on e-ssential -- but until Apple confirms anything, the latest iPhone feels a little less special this time around.

5. Goodbye, physical home button

With the uptick in digital content consumption, the removal of the iPhone's physical home button was inevitable. As reliable as the home button was on older iPhones -- I know several users who will miss the Touch ID sensor and satisfying haptics -- it also demanded unnecessary real estate on the front of devices. 

By removing the home button on the iPhone 16e, Apple was able to expand the display to 6.1 inches while embedding a camera notch that doubles as a Face ID sensor. It also just became easier to unlock your phone with sweaty hands.