Apple seems to be preparing to say goodbye to the Lightning to jack adapter 3.5 mm jack, an accessory that has accompanied users since the presentation of the iPhone 7 in 2016. Although it is still available in some countries, most Apple online stores, including those in the United States and other major markets, They already list it as “sold out.” Everything indicates that, once stocks run out, this accessory will not be restocked.
An accessory that marked a historical transition
The Lightning to 3.5mm jack adapter was launched alongside the iPhone 7, the company’s first model to eliminated the traditional headphone jack. This decision was highly controversial at the time, marking the beginning of the transition to wireless audio and establishing the foundation for the success of AirPods.
In the early years, Apple included this adapter in the box of new iPhones to make the transition easier. However, over time, stopped offering it as an included accessory, forcing users who needed to connect wired headphones to purchase it separately.
Currently, the adapter is available only in select markets such as India, France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. In most other countries, including the United States and Spain, no longer in stockwhich seems to indicate that Apple is carrying out a silent recall of the product.
Why is Apple removing the adapter?
The end of the Lightning to 3.5 mm jack adapter could be one more sign of the imminent Lightning port abandonment across the entire Apple product line. This year, the company has taken significant steps toward adopting the USB-C standard, as seen in the iPhone 15 and in updating accessories like the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse.
Currently, the only Apple devices that still use the Lightning port are the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE. However, the latter is scheduled for an update in the first quarter of 2025, with the long-awaited iPhone SE 4, which will finally adopt the USB-C port.
With this transition underway, the Lightning to jack adapter loses relevance in the Apple ecosystem, as new compatible devices use the USB-C port and have their own headphone adapter for a similar price.
For users who still have an iPhone with a Lightning port, the options are increasingly limited. One possibility is to resort to third party adapters. Another alternative is to opt for wireless headphones, such as AirPods.
The withdrawal of the Lightning to 3.5 mm jack adapter is a clear indication of the direction Apple is taking: a fully wireless ecosystem and with USB-C as a connection standard. While this represents a technological evolution, it also leaves behind many users who rely on more traditional accessories.
Although some may consider this decision a logical move in the transition towards a more unified and efficient future, it is inevitable that generate discomfort among users who still use devices with Lightning. For many, this adapter has been an essential tool to keep compatibility with their old headphones alive.
The entry Apple is going to definitively remove this iPhone accessory very soon: many people are not going to like it was first published in La Manzana Mordida.
