Apple seems to have quietly phased out considered one of its long-standing equipment, the three.5mm lightning to headphone jack adapter. The adapter, which allowed customers to attach wired headphones and different audio units to iPhones that lack a headphone jack, has been listed as “bought out” on Apple’s on-line retailer within the US and most different international locations, based on MacRumors.
After Apple determined to discontinue the three.5mm headphone port from the iPhone 7, the Lightning to three.5mm Adapter made its debut in 2016. This transfer left many customers needing an answer for his or her present wired headphones, which have been now not appropriate with the brand new fashions. The adapter provided a easy repair, permitting customers to proceed utilizing their wired headphones with out switching to Bluetooth choices.
The transition away from the Lightning connector gained additional momentum with the discharge of the iPhone 15 in 2023, which formally adopted USB-C. Over time, the adapter was bundled with new iPhone fashions from the iPhone 7 by way of to the iPhone XS, launched in 2018. However by then, many customers had already shifted to wi-fi options like Apple’s Lightning EarPods or Bluetooth AirPods, and the adapter was now not included within the field. It continued to be accessible for buy individually at Apple shops, however now it appears to be disappearing from the cabinets completely.
In response to a report within the New York Post, this discontinuation seems to be a part of Apple’s broader transition away from its proprietary Lightning port in favour of USB-C, which has now turn out to be the usual for the corporate’s newer units.
Whereas the adapter has been discontinued within the UK, US and Australia, it’s nonetheless accessible in France, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. It may also be discovered by way of third-party retailers corresponding to Amazon.