The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
New iPhone: 2018 model might give up on headphone jack entirely, reports suggest
Even the bundled dongle is disappearing, as Apple embraces wireless audio
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Apple is expected to remove the headphone adapter with its next iPhone, leaving people unable to use traditional headphones with their new mobiles.
The company famously – or infamously – dropped the headphone jack from its handsets with the iPhone 7. But at the time it promised that nothing much would change for people with traditional headphones, since the box would come with an adapter that would allow them to be plugged into the charging port.
Now that adapter is being removed, according to an analyst report first spotted by Macrumors. As such, people will be required to stop using their traditional headphones, or get an adapter of their own.
Apple has been clear that it is embracing a wireless future, expecting people to use Bluetooth headphones rather than plug them in. With the iPhone 7, it released wireless ear buds of its own, and made clear statements that it saw them as the future of listening.
But that decision upset the many iPhone users who wanted to keep using their traditional headphones, which plugged in using a jack. So Apple bundled a dongle in the box, which could be used to adapt a headphone jack into the Lightning cable required to plug into the bottom of the phone.
With the new iPhone – expected next month – that adapter will no longer be provided for free, according to multiple reports. The latest evidence comes from a Barclays analyst report into Cirrus Logic, which supplies parts for the adapter and suggested that it had confirmed it would no longer be providing the dongle.
Apple will probably continue to sell the adapter, which is available on its website for the relatively low price of $9 or £9. But the reviews on that page demonstrate the lingering anger over the decision to drop the headphone jack: it has one star out of five, and the reviews page is full of complaints about having to use the adapter.
It continues to be one of Apple's best-selling accessories, even nearly two years after the headphone jack was dropped.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments