Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm adapter appears to be selling out worldwide, and the same is true for its other Lightning adapters and cables.
There are still many iPhones and iPads with the Lightning port but without the 3.5mm audio jack that could warrant keeping this adapter, introduced alongside the iPhone 7 in 2016, on sale for a few more years. For example, Apple through third-party sellers continues to offer the ninth-generation iPad with Lightning.
However, Apple looks to be phasing out Lightning, as other Lightning-based adapters and cables are selling out on its online store in some countries, including the Lightning to VGA adapter for home delivery in the United States.
Is Apple discontinuing the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter?
MacRumors reports that the adapter was recently listed as “sold out” on Apple’s online store in the United States and many other countries around the world.
The Lightning to 3.5mm adapter has a male Lightning plug on one side that plugs into your iPhone’s Lightning port and a female 3.55mm audio port on the other for connecting wired headphones equipped with a 3.55mm plug.
“The adapter remains available from Apple in only a handful of countries, such as France, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, but likely only until remaining inventory is depleted,” noted the publication.
Apple used to bundle this adapter with the iPhone 7, iPhone 8 and iPhone X models in 2016 and 2017. Starting with 2018’s iPhone XS, the adapter is no longer in the box, but Apple continued offering it as a separate purchase priced at $9.
Apple currently sells three devices with a Lightning port, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models and the third-generation iPhone SE. If Apple will no longer stock this adapter and other Lightning-based adapters and cables, and it doesn’t look like it will, you can always find a few good alternatives on Amazon.