End of an era? Apple appears to be phasing out its Lightning adapter for wired headphones
- Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter is sold out around the world
- It is used to connect older iPhones to wired headphones
- Apple still sells a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for newer products
Since Apple dropped the 3.5mm jack from its phones, the company has sold a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter that lets you connect the best wired headphones to your iPhone. But it now appears that Apple is going to discontinue the product as it shows up as out of stock around the world. So if you want to buy the adapter (or get a spare), you might have to be quick.
MacRumors first saw the situation and reported that the adapter was listed as sold out on Apple’s online store in the US and many other countries. There are a handful of countries where you can buy it from Apple’s online store – such as Denmark, Finland, France, Norway and Sweden – but chances are that will only last until the device sells out there too.
The Lightning to 3.5mm adapter was originally included in the box when you purchased an iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and iPhone X series phone. However, Apple stopped this practice when it launched the iPhone
Today, the only Lightning-equipped iPhones Apple sells are the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE, and all three are expected to be discontinued next year. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series, on the other hand, come with USB-C ports, and Apple still sells a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for those devices.
End of the line
Now that modern iPhones support USB-C and Apple sells a 3.5mm adapter for those products, the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter serves an increasingly small number of customers. With the only compatible iPhones Apple still selling set to be phased out in just a few months, it’s likely that Apple feels there’s simply no need to keep selling the Lightning adapter.
Indeed, it’s not just iPhones that are dropping the Lightning port; Apple has transitioned all of its products to USB-C in accordance with European Union (EU) regulations. We’ve seen this impact Apple’s Mac accessories like the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad, while Apple moved its iPad line to USB-C several years ago.
When Apple dropped the 3.5mm port from its iPhones, it said it made the decision as people increasingly turned to wireless earphones that offered a more convenient wireless way to listen to audio. With wired headphones becoming more and more of a niche product and a USB-C adapter available for anyone who needs it, Apple apparently doesn’t think it’s worth continuing to make its Lighting adapter.
If you’re using wired headphones with an older iPhone and want to continue doing so, it might be worth buying a few spare adapters while you can, just in case your current ones break – and there are still a few options from third-party makers as well. You can also consider buying one of the best wireless headphones. With Black Friday fast approaching, now’s a great time to score a bargain.
