Apple Discontinues iPhone SE, iPhone 6S/6S Plus, iPhone X

Out with the old and in with the new, as they say. With the introduction of three new iPhones today, it's not really shocking that Apple would decide to stop selling the oldest models it still has in stores. But while not unexpected, it almost feels too soon. And more than the timing, the motive seems to also be a bit unusual. Because by discontinuing the iPhone 6S and the iPhone SE, Apple has effectively removed the last iPhones that have a headphone jack.

That's probably not going to sit well with some iPhone users, especially in light of news that Apple won't ship a Lightning to 3.5 mm jack adapter with its newest iPhones. Dropping the headphone jack has always been a controversial move and not everyone has accepted that it is the only path forward. Some OEMs, in fact, have been praised for still sticking with the decades-old connector.

Even more surprising, however, is Apple's discontinuation of the iPhone SE. While not exactly a fast-selling model, the small iPhone has quite popular for the way it stuck to Apple's classic design and size. Its 4.7-inch screen and affordable price offered a haven for iPhone fans who want nothing to do with notches large sizes. And, yes, it has a headphone jack too.

The iPhone X does stand out as the odd one out when it comes to this batch, but it's not surprising either. The iPhone X and this year's iPhone XS have the same starting price so it doesn't make much sense to keep the older model with slightly outdated specs. It also lets Apple focus its production lines on the newest models.

While these models are no longer sold on Apple's own stores, there will still be some retailers that will still have them available. With the discontinuation of these iPhones, Apple is effectively removing legacy features and design and closing a chapter of its iPhone history.