It appears that Apple is discontinuing the Lightning to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter that it released alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 2016.
The adapter was recently listed as "sold out" on Apple's online store in the U.S. and most other countries, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The adapter remains available from Apple in only a handful of countries, such as France, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, but likely only until remaining inventory is depleted. The same situation played out with the SuperDrive earlier this year, with the USB-powered CD drive selling out on Apple's online store first in the U.S. and eventually worldwide.
Apple included the adapter in the box with all iPhone 7, iPhone 8, and iPhone X models at no additional cost, but all models since the iPhone XS have not come with one. Apple continued to sell the adapter on its online store, with U.S. pricing set at $9, but it appears that the accessory is on its way out after an eight-year run.
The adapter allows users to connect wired headphones with a 3.5mm plug to iPhone models without a headphone jack via the Lightning port. However, the only iPhone models with Lightning ports that Apple still sells new are the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE, and all three of those devices are expected to be discontinued next year. All of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models are equipped with USB-C ports, and Apple continues to sell a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter.
Alongside the wireless AirPods lineup, Apple continues to sell wired EarPods in USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm headphone plug variations.
Update: Various other Lightning adapters and cables are sold out on Apple's online store in some countries. In the U.S., this includes the Lightning to VGA adapter for home delivery.
Top Rated Comments
AirPods Pro bought only a couple of years ago is already battery dead. Free wired Apple buds included with Apple tech a decade+ ago still work fine. Wired headphones purchased 2 decades+ ago still work fine. One set of wired headphones owned for at least 4 decades still work fine.
Hopefully, "the future" gets there... someday... but I suspect we all learned a lesson that "forcing" change doesn't guarantee actual change... unless change is measured in how much MORE flows OUT of our wallets... instead of getting to use product already owned. ???
And the pairing never goes off.