Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapters

[TheIntruder]

Now that these are a mostly necessary evil, trying to decide which one to get.

Is Apple's adapter the best option? Least crappy option? Only option?

I've looked at the third-party alternatives, and reviews are mixed, at best. Franky, Apple's dongle also gets mixed reviews but at least it's a known quantity and some measure of engineering went into it.

I'm not concerned with mic/headset functionality, nor the ability to charge simultaneously

I just want good, straight audio.

 

[Hawaiian Starman]

I bought the Apple adapter (only lighting to 3.5 headphone) for $10. Works without issue on my XSmax.
[doublepost=1550846096][/doublepost]I also use it on my iMac and iPad Pro…again, without issue.

 

[jetsam]

I've only tried the Apple dongle, and found it perfectly fine with my iPhone 7 Plus. I've also tried the dongle on my iPad (5th gen) and compared the dongle vs headphone jack. I can't tell the difference.

I tested with my two in-ear earphones - a Shure SE215 and an Etymotic ER3XR.

I bought an extra dongle so that I can leave it attached to the earphones so I don't have to look for it.

 

[Falhófnir]

With lightning being proprietary it's probable that Apple have the only above-board option (unless they have licensed someone else to make one too). For only $/£/€ 9 it won't break the bank at least (though that's still paying out for replacing functionality they axed!)

I bought the Apple adapter (only lighting to 3.5 headphone) for $10. Works without issue on my XSmax.
[doublepost=1550846096][/doublepost]I also use it on my iMac and iPad Pro…again, without issue.

iMac? Those don't have lightning ports though.

 

[TheIntruder]

Thanks all.

Shure's Lighting cable or BT cable also look good on paper, but mixed reviews and at somewhat of a cost.

For $9, Apple's dongle isn't a huge risk, though I'd wish that it wasn't necessary at all.

 

[NoBoMac]

Will ditto the Apple adaptor. It just works.

I also have the 2 Lightning ports version of the Belkin adaptor. Went with 2-port Lightning due to if need to use wired audio and charge, will just use the Apple dongle in conjunction.

https://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Charg...&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B074WDWVX1&th=1

 

[Lone Deranger]

Be prepared to buy these pieces of crap again and again. They are fragile! I'm on my third one already since buying my iPhone 8+ (about 18 months) and this latest one (less than 4 months old!) just failed again this morning. Failure starts by hearing faint crackling nose when the cable is moving/jostled. A few days later the audio will drop out in one ear. I'm so fed up with it that I'll likely and reluctantly end up forking out for a pair of wireless headphones.

Gotta wonder if Apple designs these adapters to fail on purpose (they aren't exactly sturdy looking) as an "incentive" to get you to spent an arm and a leg on their wireless products. It's clearly working, though I'm tempted to get some Sony ones so I can avoid this Apple tax. Grrr!!!