All iPads Apple, PLEASE Bring Back the Home Button and Headphone Jack to iPad! 😡😡😡

[Richard8655]

My teenaged/high school-aged daughter and her friends, and many others in her school are ALL into having turntables and vinyls. When we go to any stores that have vinyls, it's one of the first things my daughter wants to go shop for. Growing up mainly as an 80's kid, I was all into cassettes and boomboxes and walkmans, so it fascinates me to no end to see my kid into something that predates my generation!

I agree. I grew up with vinyl and turntables, but when the CD revolution took over I joined that. Then I slowly abandoned CD and moved on to streaming. But it amazes me that there's now a growing cult (or niche) that finds vinyl audio superior (or at least appealing). There may be something to that.

 

[Closingracer]

Okay, I’m calling it: the iPad lineup has lost its soul.

I get it—full-screen displays look stunning in promo videos. But for actual daily use? Gestures are great, but nothing beats the instant, muscle-memory reliability of a physical Home Button. Touch ID in the display is cool, but it’s still slower than a solid click. And don’t even get me started on Face ID on a tablet—it’s awkward when you’re holding it flat on a desk.

And the headphone jack? Why did that have to leave the iPad? The iPhone, I understand (barely). But an iPad has room. It’s a giant slab of aluminum! There’s zero excuse. I don’t want to carry a dongle just to use my wired IEMs for a late-night movie. Bluetooth is convenient, but latency is still a thing, and I shouldn’t need to charge my headphones just to watch a quick video.

Apple, listen:

· The iPad Pro is supposed to be "Pro" — professionals use wired audio.
· The iPad mini is for travel — travelers don't want to pack extra dongles.
· The iPad Air is for everyone — everyone misses the click.

Please, for the love of all that is tactile, bring back the physical Home Button and the 3.5mm headphone jack across the entire iPad line. Rounded edges, flat edges, I don't care—just give me that satisfying click and a place to plug in my headphones.

Who’s with me? 😡🔊

What muscle memory? I haven’t used a home button of the Android three button layout in like forever. Having a button again would be the opposite. Gestures is muscle memory and going between my iPad Pro , iPhone 16 pro and my Samsung Galaxy S25 ultra sometimes I forget swiping left or right on my Samsung phone is different than my iOS devices. Besides that swiping is the norm.

 

[Closingracer]

I agree. I grew up with vinyl and turntables, but when the CD revolution took over I joined that. Then I slowly abandoned CD and moved on to streaming. But it amazes me that there's now a growing cult (or niche) that finds vinyl audio superior (or at least appealing). There may be something to that.

I mean it is superior. I can tell the difference but I rather have the convenience at this point of my life.

 

[NastyMatt]

I mean it is superior. I can tell the difference but I rather have the convenience at this point of my life.

 

[BobVB]

Are you serious??? Apple will never, ever do that. Ever! If they brought back the headphone jack it will take a chunck out of the Airpod business. The ONLY reason Apple removed it the first place was because they wanted you to buy a BT Airpod headset priced at more than $200.

Please. Apple sells USB-C earbuds that can work with an iPad for just $19. Sony sells a pair for just $10. If someone wants wired headphones there are options. That they removed the jack because they wanted to sell more AirPods is absurd. It was a port rarely used, an access point for moisture and restricted design decisions regarding port usage and device thickness.

 

[Royksöpp]

That they removed the jack because they wanted to sell more AirPods is absurd. It was a port rarely used, an access point for moisture and restricted design decisions regarding port usage and device thickness.

Well, they actually did. They created a problem and offered a solution. Remember, courage?

And if you didn't have Airpods and wanted to charge and listen at the same time:

 

[BobVB]

Well, they actually did. They created a problem and offered a solution. Remember, courage?

And if you didn't have Airpods and wanted to charge and listen at the same time:

Yes, back when it was still a lightening port and many still had their audio plug earbuds. I agree, this is a non-problem. Now if they wanted to charge and listen they just use a USB-C pair of earbuds.