Apple Eliminates Headphone Jack From Latest-Generation iPad Lineup

[MacRumors]

As rumored, the new tenth-generation iPad comes without a headphone jack. Following its debut, Apple has now removed the 3.5mm connector from all of the latest-generation iPad models in its lineup.

The ninth-generation entry level iPad, which Apple continues to sell, is now the only remaining tablet in Apple's iPad range that has the 3.5mm connector.

For users of the newer iPad who want to use wired headphones, or in scenarios where wired headsets remain widely used, such as in classrooms, Apple sells a $9 USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter.

Apple gradually removed the 3.5mm connector from its iPhones, and then from the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini, in that order. When Apple stops selling the previous-generation iPad, it will be the death knell for the headphones connector on the company's tablets, and among Apple's hardware it will be only Macs that include the jack.

Article Link: Apple Eliminates Headphone Jack From Latest-Generation iPad Lineup

 

[phill85]

Is it just me or is this pretty much a non-issue at this point? I get that removing the headphone jack was a thing years ago… but now it’s kinda a done deal (for better or for worse).

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I will be honest. I had no idea it still had one. I have a 2021 iPad Pro and had several iPads before it. I thought it was gone for years.

 

[G5isAlive]

I suppose this is the last nail in the ‘base model’ coffin.

 

[lysingur]

Yet even the latest AirPod-capable MacBooks with Apple Silicon have a headphone jack. This just goes to show that iPad was never meant as a laptop replacement. Apple knew it since the beginning and now they're tacitly admitting it.

 

[Hasbro1]

So they’ve eliminated any opportunity to connect a microphone, a guitar, and everybody has to rely on their Bluetooth programming or getting an external audio device. My iPhone constantly thinks that my iPad mini with cellular are my AirPod pro headphones.

 

[Lancer]

Apple failed this one, its too expensive and doesn't even support the Apple Pencil 2 and for the love of god give used 128Gb base storage! The only good things is the colours and new camera position.

 

[k1121j]

The only time I use headphones is when I travel and then it’s wired ones because long haul flights AirPods don’t last long enough. I hope I can find usb headphones

 

[madebybela]

people will call the headphone jack obsolete and unnecessary because muh AirPods, meanwhile Apple went ahead and UPGRADED IT to support high impedance headphones on their newer Macs.

 

[lysingur]

The only time I use headphones is when I travel and then it’s wired ones because long haul flights AirPods don’t last long enough. I hope I can find usb headphones

It shouldn't be too hard to charge your AirPods since most airlines have USB ports even in economy class.

 

[kerr]

We need AirPods implants

 

[Paddle1]

So they’ve eliminated any opportunity to connect a microphone, a guitar, and everybody has to rely on their Bluetooth programming or getting an external audio device. My iPhone constantly thinks that my iPad mini with cellular are my AirPod pro headphones.

USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. Though I'd rather they just kept the jack.

 

[assb10yr]

About time.

 

[Bustycat]

Not a big deal. ‘You just need to spend only $1,999 on one MacBook Pro 14" or Mac Studio for the most advanced headphone jack we have ever made!’

 

[Ahmamies]

Are they giving up the education market? I don’t see schools being happy with using Bluetooth or loosing dongles.

 

[contacos]

Is it just me or is this pretty much a non-issue at this point? I get that removing the headphone jack was a thing years ago… but now it’s kinda a done deal (for better or for worse).

I legit just had to check to see if my iPad Air 4 has a headphone jack or not. I would not have been able to tell you

 

[SanderEvers]

Honstly who uses those old ports anymore? They are outdated, the best thing you can do is buy a decent USB-C dac for your headphones

Edit: I'm talking about the port on the device. The built-in DAC on Apple's mobile devices isn't that good to begin with. Using a quality USB-C (or lightning on the iPhone) DAC gives you a higher quality audio.

 

[addamas]

USB-C to 3.5mm adapter. Though I'd rather they just kept the jack.

But not everyone. Make sure it’s microphone jack to usb not normal jack otherwise microphone recording will not work on iPad (tested by pain when used iPad Pro 2018 11” with external microphone when also needed TRS > TRSS adapter before jack to usb-c to connect external microphone to record audio for official meetings)

 

[ian87w]

The iPad 9 is really the best deal of ipad one can get right now. It can do 95% what its more expensive models can at the lowest proce. They all run the same ipadOS anyway.

 

[ian87w]

Are they giving up the education market? I don’t see schools being happy with using Bluetooth or loosing dongles.

Thats why Apple is keeping the iPad 9 in the lineup.

At least Apple still keeps the headphone jack on their laptops. Dell already ditch it on theirs for some reason.

 

[Porco]

I use the headphone jack in my iPad every single day and it was a significant factor in buying a 9th gen iPad rather than spending more on a higher spec model. I’m not a fan of Apple’s decision on this, to put it mildly.

 

[nicho]

Is it just me or is this pretty much a non-issue at this point? I get that removing the headphone jack was a thing years ago… but now it’s kinda a done deal (for better or for worse).

It is a pretty big deal for the education market.

 

[DFZD]

Apple makes such strange choices. Did it create a new iPad category between iPad Classic and iPad Air? Where does it stop. Miss the time when it used to just have two models and annual updates for them.

 

[ThomasJL]

Wasn’t one of Apple’s pathetic excuses for first removing the headphone jack on the iPhone 7 was that since iPhones are so small, inside space is very limited and thus they need that space for other things? How the heck does that excuse apply to iPads which are much bigger?

 

[zoltan08]

Is it just me or is this pretty much a non-issue at this point? I get that removing the headphone jack was a thing years ago… but now it’s kinda a done deal (for better or for worse).

I use ipad as a musical instrument. It's connected to a midi controller trhu usb and speakers trhu jack. Bluethoot is worthless for me because of the great lag. It's not a problem if you listening to music, but for real time music creation it's not usable. There is a dongle with both usb and jack, i haven't tried it, but it's lame, unpractical, expensive and i am not sure it will provide same quality as separate ports. Probably not.