Apple launched its wireless audio playback era in 2016 by introducing the first iPhone without a headphone jack – alongside the original AirPods. Apple softened the blow by including a Lightning to headphone jack adapter in the iPhone 7’s box. Despite iPhones beyond the X model no longer bundling the official accessory for free, Apple continues to sell it for $9 on its website. This may be coming to an end, though, as Apple could discontinue using Lightning to headphone jack soon.
Signs of the adapter’s departure are becoming clear. Many Apple Stores worldwide, including those in the US, Canada, and Australia, now list the Lightning to headphone jack adapter as out of stock. While some countries like France still have it available, industry watchers believe this could signal the end of this small but important accessory.
The timing seems a bit odd since Apple still sells Lightning-equipped iPhones, including the iPhone SE 3 and regular iPhone 14 models. A more logical move would be to wait until next fall when Apple is expected to completely phase out the Lightning port from all its iPhone models.
For those worried about using their wired headphones, there’s good news. Apple offers a USB-C version of the headphone adapter for newer iPhone 15 and upcoming iPhone 16 users. This means only people with older Lightning port iPhones might be affected if Apple decides to discontinue the Lightning adapter.
It’s worth mentioning that this isn’t set in stone yet. Earlier predictions about Apple discontinuing its wired EarPods didn’t come true, so the Lightning adapter might stick around longer than expected. We’ll have to wait for an official announcement from Apple to know for sure.
