Low-Cost iPad and iPod Touch Are Last iOS Devices With Headphone Jack as iPad Mini 6 Drops Support

[BGarza]

I was going to get the new iPad Mini as a DJ controller for DJay 2, as a backing track solution using Keynote sync'd to a projector and a house mixer, as well as an interface for Simple Piano. Sure, I could track down a dongle to split out power, but eventually it will get lost and the problem with dongles is that very few stores nearby will ever have one to sell you in a pinch. If Apple care about pro users, they would include these solutions on Pro devices. Alas, I'm going to hope that my iPhone 6S+ lasts a while longer.

 

[ignatius345]

All the good wired earphones with 3.5mm jacks have disappeared. Remember when RHA had multiple wired earphones at the Apple store now look what they sell

This is demonstrably untrue. There are still very good headphones that use cords. There are other places to buy headphones, turns out, than the Apple Store.

 

[turbineseaplane]

This is demonstrably untrue. There are still very good headphones that use cords. There are other places to buy headphones, turns out, than the Apple Store.

Well said -- in fact I think one should buy headphones from anywhere BUT the Apple Store.

 

[JamesTheo]

It was bad enough apple bullied loyal users and forced folks to buy their newest ear buds by removing the headphone jack on a $2,200 MacBook Pro, but this? This is just plain corporate greed. Like my useless, seldom if ever used Bar on my 2017, apple always seems takes away what we want and gives us crap we won't use. What would a headphone jack cost? What? 2 bucks, maybe?

 

[dyt1983]

So the new iPad Mini has a headphone jack, but it doesn’t work? You can’t “drop support” for something you don’t have. The correct wording would be, “iPad mini has no headphone jack.”

If you want to be that pedantic, then "has no [noun]" also would not be "correct wording", and not correctly worded. It would probably be better to write, "iPad mini does not have a headphone jack."

But most MacRumors content is not written/edited by journalists/writers, but I suspect most will understand what is implied.

 

[bryo]

I use the base ipad with my dt 177x, or hooked up to my amp with my dt 1990s. The base iPad is an excellent high res music streamer, and the headphone jack gives it extra versatility.

 

[Jetson]

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.

Does anyone really think that iPad is lacking space for a headphone jack or that it would make it less usable? Right. Only $$$ is at play here and this is very sad indeed.

I abhor the fact that microwave radiation is beaming through my brain between the right and the left wireless earphones. I prefer the traditional headphone jack.

 

[Shirasaki]

I’m mostly off wired headphone at this point. I don’t even have a wired headphone to support my NAATI test even though they are the “recommended” setups (no. Buying a headset for one occasion is not acceptable).

But, wireless experience is nowhere near where those manufactures want you to believe. Cutoffs, much shorter range than advertised, easy signal interference, difficult to connect, running battery low too fast, the list goes on and on.

To me, wireless headphone is far from completely replacing wired headphone, maybe never can replace. For one, Bluetooth bandwidth has to be 10x what it is now so high quality audio can be streamed. Second, the range has to be bigger for direct line of sight so wall penetration is more effective, while still maintaining low power consumption.

Will this be possible? Maybe? But wireless inherited shortcomings means wired headphone will more than likely be around for decades, however niche it becomes.

 

[JustAnExpat]

I wonder how much longer the iPod Touch will stay. I think 2022 will be the year of the great culling of Apple's mobile line for new features.

 

[turbineseaplane]

But, wireless experience is nowhere near where those manufactures want you to believe. Cutoffs, much shorter range than advertised, easy signal interference, difficult to connect, running battery low too fast, the list goes on and on.

This ^^

100% agree

 

[bobtem]

If you want to be that pedantic, then "has no [noun]" also would not be "correct wording", and not correctly worded. It would probably be better to write, "iPad mini does not have a headphone jack."

But most MacRumors content is not written/edited by journalists/writers, but I suspect most will understand what is implied.

Fair enough. But we should call out poor journalism even if we know what they mean. So much of the writing by the MR staff is clumsy, redundant, and verbose. They provide a valuable service, just poorly written.

 

[return2sendai]

iPod Classic user. I have a headphone hack but haven’t used it in 5 years. I just plug a Bluetooth adapter into the 30 pin dock connector port and away I and my AirPods go.

 

[MacBH928]

I have lightening Apple earpods and usb-c only iPad Air 4, but my MBP 2015 doesn't have lightening port.

Thanks Tim!

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

I use headphone jacks for work aswell as for private entertainment. It's an unnecessary stupidity to get rid of it when there is no apparent need to. I am stuck in a dilemma where the "new design iPads" have no jack but lef-right stereo speakers, but the basic iPad has the jack but the mono sound. Why cant I have both Apple?

Because this is how they push everyone off cheap wired headphones and onto massively overpriced AirPods. It has been an extremely successful strategy. But yeah, it sucks big time for users.

To my surprise, I've actually discovered how damn useful AirPods are, not because I rushed out and bought some, I stubbornly stuck with my old jacked phone, but because a friend of mine came to stay and had them. Hands free phone calls. And watching/listening to YouTube vids and podcasts on my laptop whilst cooking etc, without having to annoy anyone else in the house with the noise, and without having a cord in the way. The price is disgusting though. And I've realised I can actually buy high quality, high fidelity, more comfortable over ear, replaceable battery, wireless Sennheiser headphones, that will last for years and years, for cheaper!!! So no more rip off money going to Apple and landfill on this game from me.

Note that every single Mac still has the jack. Why? Because the audio/video pros that use these machines wouldn't buy them if they didn't have them. And losing creatives wouldn't be a good look for the Apple brand.

And what astounds me, is the number of Apple apologists that are now adamantly anti-jack, as if somehow the jack would make any negative difference to their device.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

I personally think it is ok removing it from iPhone since you need to space. But why can't apple keep it on the iPad :/
They for sure have space on the iPad for a headphone jack.

The jack takes up a minuscule amount of space. Especially compared to the size and weight of the magnets and transformer for MagSafe for crying out loud.

It would be nice if they made an iPhone Audio Pro version with a jack.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

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.

Yep. Has anyone notice that "It just works" has long been dropped from Apple's language. Coinciding w T-Doosh taking the reins. Nothing much Apple "just works" anymore. It's still better than the competition, but now full of bugs, annoying design decisions, and short-term-profit driven product delivery. I sure as hell hope the next guy is better, but not getting my hopes up.

 

[jwolf6589]

Apple is continuing to phase out the headphone jack from its iOS devices, and the iPad mini 6 is the latest iPad to see the feature removed.

The prior-generation iPad mini 5, released in 2019, had a headphone jack located at the top of the device, but the iPad mini 6 does not include this feature. With no headphone jack, the iPad mini 6 supports only Bluetooth-enabled headphones or headphones able to connect to the USB-C port on the device.

iPad mini 6 components​

Apple has now removed the headphone jack from all of the devices in its iOS lineups with the exception of the low-cost iPad and the iPod touch, a device that's likely being phased out and sees few updates.

The 10.2-inch iPad 9 that was released last week continues to offer a headphone jack at the top left of the tablet, and it is the only iPad have to a headphone jack available. Given that this tablet is aimed at schools, it makes sense that it has a headphone jack to allow students to use school-provided headphones.

iPad 9 components​

Though Apple has now phased out the headphone jack from almost all iOS devices, Apple's Macs continue to have a headphone jack available, including the newest M1 models. It is not clear if Apple plans to remove the headphone jack from Macs in the future, but that may not be in the cards because Macs have more available space for the headphone jack component.

Apple began removing the headphone jack from iPhones with the launch of the iPhone 7, and it was pulled to make room for other components as well as to improve water resistance by removing a point of ingress. Apple's iPhones and iPads have continued getting thinner, more compact, and more feature rich over the years, leaving no space for a headphone jack. With the transition to AirPods and other Bluetooth-based wire-free headphones, the headphone jack is also no longer as important to many iOS device users.

Article Link: Low-Cost iPad and iPod Touch Are Last iOS Devices With Headphone Jack as iPad Mini 6 Drops Support

Better not remove the headphone jack on the MacBook Pro. I boy cheaper speakers and use them daily.

 

[jwolf6589]

I have a Mini 5 and almost never use the headphone jack. When on. Airplane I use my AirPods or the headphones that plug into the lightning port.

 

[jwolf6589]

The jack takes up a minuscule amount of space. Especially compared to the size and weight of the magnets and transformer for MagSafe for crying out loud.

It would be nice if they made an iPhone Audio Pro version with a jack.

We don’t need the headphone jack except on the Mac.

 

[Vratikranka]

Macs have more available space for the headphone jack component. Apple began removing the headphone jack from iPhones with the launch of the iPhone 7, and it was pulled to make room for other components

So cute that you guys still think Jack was removed to make room for others *cries in Titanic*

 

[EntropyQ3]

All that said... it's silly that larger devices like iPads don't have a headphone jack. But what are ya gonna do. We're in Year 5 of "no headphone jack gate" and frankly I'm getting sick of hearing about it...

I can understand getting sick of hearing complaints. But turn that around, people are still complaining about it, so obviously this is something a lot of people care about.
Personally, I have a long standing interest in headphones and binaural recording, and have a collection of interesting (and truly excellent) phones that are wired, and I will keep functional for decades more. These things operate on a different time scale from mobile electronics devices.

Also, we know Apple insists on removing the headphone jack because their wireless headphone business is wildly profitable. But someone (we) pays for that. So now that my younger daughter need a new iPad, if I get a mini, she can no longer use her loudness limited wired phones, but I have to buy new phones as well, and she has to mind one more battery life. None of us want that. So it’s unlikely we’ll choose the higher cost and more hassle option. It really doesn’t serve us. Removing options doesn’t provide higher value in this case. (In most computing cases, actually.)

 

[developer13245]

This is demonstrably untrue. There are still very good headphones that use cords. There are other places to buy headphones, turns out, than the Apple Store.

Agree, there are also other places to buy GOOD true wireless ear buds. I'm quite happy with my Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro earbuds. Even happier they're WAY cheaper than ear buds. Picked mine up for $89.

 

[TechPassionist]

To be honest… I was against the lost of the headphone jack but after my first pair of AirPods I was thankful for this new experience. And they got over the time so much better with all the software features/integration.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I can understand getting sick of hearing complaints. But turn that around, people are still complaining about it, so obviously this is something a lot of people care about.

Oh I know people still care about it. And it's articles like this that stoke the fires. And from The Verge.

But at what point do people stop talking about it? We don't think it's coming back... do we?

Like I said earlier... it's been 5 years since Apple removed the headphone jack from arguably the most important product in Apple's entire history... the iPhone.

iPad Pro was next. Now it's the iPad Mini.

Lord help us if future Macbooks don't have a headphone jack!

 

[SpotOnT]

Oh I know people still care about it. And it's articles like this that stoke the fires. And from The Verge.

But at what point do people stop talking about it? We don't think it's coming back... do we?

Like I said earlier... it's been 5 years since Apple removed the headphone jack from arguably the most important product in Apple's entire history... the iPhone.

iPad Pro was next. Now it's the iPad Mini.

Lord help us if future Macbooks don't have a headphone jack!

I don't know...Apple did eventually get rid of the horrible butterfly keyboard. And the return of the SD card slot, HDMI connector and the removal of the touch bar on the upcoming MacBook Pros (if the rumors are indeed true) show that Apple can in fact admit their mistakes (at least in terms of actions). Granted, that took them 6 years to accept.

No one complains about the loss of the floppy drive anymore. Or the removal of the Optical Drive. The fact that many of us still talk about the headphone jack, shows that Apple has not yet provided a meaningful solution that meets our needs.

I think a lot of this will come to a head if/when Apple removes all the ports from the iPhone entirely. If they can't provide something that actually replaces the ports, they will likely have to backpedal. How many ports will come back if they face major backlash? Who knows....