Photo credit: arstechnica.com

Apple Discontinues Lightning-to-3.5 mm Headphone Adapter

Apple’s decision to eliminate the headphone jack starting with the iPhone 7 stirred considerable debate among users. While the company initially offered a Lightning-to-3.5 mm adapter—either included in the box or available for a modest $9—it appears that this convenience is now coming to an end.

As reported by MacRumors, the adapter has largely become unavailable for purchase in several regions, including the USA, where it can no longer be ordered directly from Apple’s online store.

The depleting inventory suggests that Apple is unlikely to restock this particular accessory, indicating a strategic withdrawal from supporting older Lightning port products. This aligns with the broader trend of transitioning away from the proprietary Lightning technology, as Apple has increasingly adopted the more universal USB-C standard across its major devices.

While older iPhone models like the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 still remain on the market, these too are expected to be phased out in the near future.

For users seeking to connect 3.5 mm headphones to USB-C devices, Apple does offer a similar adapter, catering to customers who have adopted the newer charging standard.

Despite this shift, many users still cling to their older Lightning-compatible devices and may not yet have transitioned to wireless audio solutions. While third-party adapter options remain available, the removal of Apple’s popular Lightning adapter signals a trend that has been seen with numerous other phased-out accessories from the tech giant.

Source
arstechnica.com