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I prefer wearing headphones, and wired ones at that. I don't have too worry about charging them, plus I can have higher quality audio with wired vs wireless.

Something I'd like to know: Which Apple headphones (or any headphones, really) support all of Apple's new audio features (spatial audio, lossless, etc.)?
OK, don't have to worry about charging them - that means you are hooked up to an amp. no iPad or smartphone contains an Amp. If they are digital, they take a digital signal, convert it into analog which requires power, most likely batteries which require charging
 
I have my headphones in all day every day pretty much. I enjoy the convenience of plugging them from one source to another seamlessly and never having to charge them. Having lightning headphones doesn't work because I plug into other things frequently such as my computer or music gear that use the 70 year old connection standard.

No headphone jack on an iPad makes it much less useful for me as a DJ. I enjoy sampling material straight off my phone into various pieces of music gear I own and not having to use some inelegant adapter for the privilege.

If Apple suddenly released a new version of the iPhone SE that brought back a headphone jack, I'd be first in line for that. Call it a pro, charge $1000 for it, I don't really care but it's a requirement for me.

This is why I am still using an iPhone 6S in 2021 and will keep doing so for the foreseeable future.
 
Overall the lack of a headphone jack is a major annoyance made worse by USB C.

A heavy reliance on AirPods means they’re often not charged when you need them. Try doing a day of back to back virtual meetings and you’ll know what I mean.

If you want to use a set of high end studio headphones you need a USB C dongle to plug them in.

If you use an iRig for virtual amps you need a USB C dongle to plug it in.

If you need to avoid Bluetooth lag when screen capturing, you need a USB C dongle to plug it in.

Half the reason MacBook Pros haven’t been that Pro the last couple of years is looking like an amateur when you turn up to present and the USB HDMI dongle you have doesn’t work with the projector or TV you need to plug into.

No wonder Surface Pro’s and Thinkpads sell so well to business. They just work, HDMI and headphone ports built right in.
"No wonder Surface Pro’s and Thinkpads sell so well to business." LOL
 
I wouldn't mind if using wireless headphones was a seamless experience, but I've found that it's anything but.

I take my headphones out of their case. What device do they connect to? No idea. Now I have to go into the settings on whichever device (it's different on every OS, whether iOS, Mac, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, or something else) and try to make sure they pair properly.

Vs with wired headphones I just plug into the port and the job is done.

I feel like Apple's Spatial audio stuff could be used to really easily solve the issue... but just having Apple's devices work wouldn't be good enough. They'd need the solution to be common enough that all device manufacturers are using it. Something along the lines of, if I look at a device's screen while wearing AirPods, it should immediately pair with that device... although even then, that's still not good enough. It'll work well with movies and games, but what about audio only phone calls or music or podcasts or stuff? How do I indicate I want to switch to/from that just by moving my head around?

These aren't at all problems with wired headphones, but I have no idea how to solve it if you're insisting on wireless...
 
I also have to wonder... Is there anyone who would SERIOUSLY not purchase an Apple product because it DOES still include a headphone jack? I know plenty who won't buy because it's missing but I've never heard anyone say they wouldn't buy if it did include it. Plenty of people say it's unneeded or "good riddance" but typically I've never heard anyone complain about an electronic device including too many connectivity options.
 
Personally, I don't mind using a dongle or USB-C headphones for hard line connections, and bluetooth for convenience. The only time in history this would have really irked me would be in the car, but all my vehicles (and most since the mid 2010's) support USB audio and have support for Apple devices. In my Chevrolet Silverado, I can only pair Bluetooth to either hands-free OR music player functions, so I long ago picked up the last generation of iPod Nano and leave it in the truck permanently. It's a low loss if it gets stolen and tolerates all the weather (temps) it's been tossed at.

I do hope they include a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, just to have it on hand when I travel. I already have a powered USB-C 3.5mm dongle from a 3rd party.

That all being said, I don't mind more options and the presence of a 3.5mm jack would have been perfectly fine... but lacking one doesn't create any hesitancy in upgrading for me.
 
Yeah, iPad mini's usefulness for latency free music production is greatly reduced without a direct analog audio out port. Belkin sells a USB-C dongle with an extra USB-C port so it can be charged at the same time. So, like often nowadays with Apple - spend more to get the old functionality back...
(not bought a product yet from them without the port, maybe I never will with my own money)
 
I also have to wonder... Is there anyone who would SERIOUSLY not purchase an Apple product because it DOES still include a headphone jack? I know plenty who won't buy because it's missing but I've never heard anyone say they wouldn't buy if it did include it. Plenty of people say it's unneeded or "good riddance" but typically I've never heard anyone complain about an electronic device including too many connectivity options.

There would be no point of not buying if it included a headphone jack. Those completely sold on bluetooth would still have full bluetooth connectivity, unaffected in any way by this other option being available too. Those who like/love dongles- perhaps those who have paid up for an expensive professional dongle perhaps better than the DACs Apple builds inside all mobile devices- would still be able to use whatever dongles they want to use too.

One of the most amazing things about THIS particular issue is how passionately those completely unaffected by this tech having the jack argue against it... as if an extra connection option somehow negatively affects them... or is bad for Apple somehow.
 
I will get flamed as always and just told to “use a dongle”…

But removing the headphone jack is a big drag on something like the iPad to me.
I use my headphone jacks every single day on both my iPhone SE and my iPad mini 5
 
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I also have to wonder... Is there anyone who would SERIOUSLY not purchase an Apple product because it DOES still include a headphone jack? I know plenty who won't buy because it's missing but I've never heard anyone say they wouldn't buy if it did include it. Plenty of people say it's unneeded or "good riddance" but typically I've never heard anyone complain about an electronic device including too many connectivity options.

Exactly right…

What you would have is a whole bunch of people defending a position that the headphone jack is taking up space that would be better used for XYZ.

They have no data or way to quantify what the XYZ would be but they would insist that it’s better without the headphone jack just because.

There’s no good argument for not having it on tablets.
 
come on, Apple, where's your courage?

Time to complete kill off the 3.5mm headphone jacks by eliminating them on the inexpensive iPad and iPod Touch!
 
come on, Apple, where's your courage?

Time to complete kill off the 3.5mm headphone jacks by eliminating them on the inexpensive iPad and iPod Touch!
yeah, as if schools needs even more incentives to go completely onboard googles datamining chromebook platform! no way schools will start buying bt-headphones that also needs to be charged all the time... ugh

oh, sorry - I forgot - dongles it is of course...
 
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I still miss the headphone jack on my iPhone. I could locate and insert the headphone jack in complete darkness. Always seems a faff to do the same with Lightning or USB-C.
 
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i can’t comment on (and respect) anyone else’s use-case but for me it’s been a non-issue from day one. The jack is only used for headphones in my world and on the go I have my Jabra’s and at home the USB-C adapter lives on my Sennheiser’s. No muss, no fuss.

My sympathies to those of you that have had your workflow compromised by no 3.5mm jack. That being said - things change and evolve. Adapt and change with them. Or get left behind and die. It’s been what, 5 years now? If you haven’t adjusted by now and come up with an alternate solution there’s just no helping you now.
 
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Sounds about right, the war on the headphone jack is almost complete. I think it is on borrowed time with the Mac.
There are a _lot_ of other ports I'd prefer.
I wish one day there would be a massive lawsuit that would underline how using wireless headphones and earphones is not near as healthy as using wired ones, thus pushing manufacturers do get either 3,5mm jack back, or at least 2,5mm which would be absolutely fine as well.
First step would be there being any identified negative health impact to wireless headphones vs wired ones.

Even then, it would be a USB-C / lightning dongle.
 
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Something I'd like to know: Which Apple headphones (or any headphones, really) support all of Apple's new audio features (spatial audio, lossless, etc.)?
None of them. All wireless Apple earbuds and headphones should support special audio but they are not lossless. The closest you can go to having both is using AirPods Pro wired through its lightning port, which has a better sound quality than BT but it’s not completely lossless. Non-Apple headphones don’t support spacial audio.
 
I use the headphone jack for my more expensive headphones. It only $10 for the headphone to usb-c adopter!
 
might I say, "idiots" ? Apple really seems to hate music, music ownership, musicians, music collectors.
sorry but I fail to see where Apple ‘hates’ music and musicians?

Is it because they dropped an input standard developed nearly a century ago for connecting low end wired headphones? and by the way - a 1/8 connector it is STILL fully supported using a widely available adaptor that you can get for less than $10! - and it’s likely you even got the adapter for free when Apple included them in the box with iPhones.

So really don’t understand what your issue is?!

I guess you missed the part where Mac’s are used in many professional and home recording studios with support for DAW programs like Logic, Pro Tools and Ableton and is widely supported by thousands of other programs, Audio interfaces, MIDI keyboards, synthesizers and devices used in the recording, editing and publishing of music?

- and by the way no professional musical or serious audiophile would bother using a headphone jack on the computer - serious listening is done through audio interfaces that are designed specifically for connecting headphones with dedicated amplifiers and volume controls.

Or perhaps you missed and the part where every Mac made in the past 20 years and every iPad ever made has included GarageBand for free, allowing nearly anyone a way to create, edit and publish their own music literally anywhere you can carry your device.

Or perhaps you missed the part where Apple developed the iPod - later iPhone for playing music libraries and iTunes for organizing content and is literally one of the main companies responsible for the development and popularization of the current standards for audio streaming and legal paid (as in not illegally stolen) music distribution platforms used by pretty much everyone who listens to music and the success of these platforms which has been accepted and used by nearly every known recording artist?

- yes i know Apple did not invent streaming or portable music players and their are numerous other similar services - bit Apple did make these platforms simple and easy to use (unlike Zune) and just as important established the legal framework for LEGAL (ie not Napster) online music streaming and distribution which has been supported and adopted by the entire music industry.

yeah Apple really hates musicians and music…

By the way VCR’s are no longer made - I guess that means Sony hate all filmmakers, and movie watchers?!
 
I need a headphone jack, not because it isn’t obsolete but because AirPods makes my ears ring after use and it’s painful. The most recent time made me quit for good, my ears ring for days to the point I couldn’t sleep. Not to mention it requires charging. Not to mention insulting to have a tablet many use for media whether that’s consuming or creating but not having something as simple as a headphone jack (buy a dongle, I pay $545 after tax and need a dongle???)
 
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