Apple appears to be quietly phasing out its Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, a staple accessory introduced alongside the iPhone 7 in 2016. While the company has not made an official announcement, the adapter has recently been listed as “sold out” across Apple’s online stores in the U.S. and most other countries, suggesting that its availability may be coming to an end.
The Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, which allowed users to connect traditional wired headphones to iPhones without a headphone jack, was included with the iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X, and iPhone XS models. Since then, Apple has continued to sell the adapter separately through its online store for $9. However, the accessory has not been bundled with iPhones since the iPhone XS, and it now seems that Apple is winding down sales altogether.
Remaining Availability in Limited Regions
As of now, the adapter remains available in only a handful of countries, including France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. However, it’s likely that these locations will also see the accessory disappear once existing stock runs out. This pattern mirrors the recent discontinuation of other legacy Apple products, such as the USB-powered SuperDrive, which was similarly sold out in many regions earlier this year.
Apple’s move away from the Lightning adapter comes amid its broader transition to USB-C across its product lineup. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series, which feature USB-C ports, no longer require the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter. Additionally, Apple continues to offer alternatives for wired headphone users, including its USB-C to 3.5mm adapter and wired EarPods in Lightning, USB-C, and 3.5mm configurations.
The End of an Era for Lightning?
The decision to discontinue the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter reflects Apple’s ongoing shift away from the Lightning port, which has been a fixture in iPhones since 2012. With the iPhone 15 marking the full transition to USB-C, the iPhone 14, iPhone SE, and the still-available iPhone 13 are now the only iPhone models that retain the Lightning port.
This move aligns with Apple’s larger strategy to standardize its connectors across its devices, with USB-C now the common port across its iPads, Macs, and accessories like the Magic Mouse and Keyboard. As the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE are expected to be discontinued in 2025, the end of the Lightning port across all iPhones seems imminent.
Despite the phasing out of the Lightning adapter, Apple has not abandoned wired headphones entirely. The company continues to sell wired EarPods, now available in USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm versions, offering users options for both wired and wireless listening experiences.
Why the Adapter Was Important
The Lightning to 3.5mm adapter played a crucial role in helping users transition to the headphone jack-less iPhone 7. At the time of its introduction, Apple faced backlash for removing the beloved headphone jack, but the inclusion of the adapter helped mitigate some of the disruption for users with existing wired headphones. Over the years, the adapter remained a useful accessory for those who preferred to keep using their wired headphones with newer iPhone models, even as the AirPods and other Bluetooth solutions grew in popularity.
With AirPods and other wireless headphones becoming more ubiquitous, the demand for the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter has likely diminished. And as Apple shifts to USB-C and more users adopt wireless audio solutions, it seems the time has come for the accessory to be retired.
While Apple has yet to officially confirm the discontinuation of the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, the ongoing stock shortages and removal from most online stores strongly suggest that the accessory’s days are numbered.