Apple Eliminates Headphone Jack From Latest-Generation iPad Lineup (2024)

by Tim Hardwick

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.

Apple Eliminates Headphone Jack From Latest-Generation iPad Lineup (1)
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.

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[ 178 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

Ahmamies

19 months ago

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

Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)

19 months ago

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?

Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)

madebybela

19 months ago

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.

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)

nicho

19 months ago


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.

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)

timber

19 months ago


Buy a dongle

That does seem to be a common answer to a lot of questions regarding Apple's stuff.

Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Bustycat

19 months ago

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!’

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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