14 DAY TRIAL // Apple ditched the headphone jack a few years ago when it launched the iPhone 7, and now the company is making another controversial decision by removing the 3.5mm audio adapter from all older models.
This means that if you purchase a new iPhone today, regardless of the model you choose, a headphone adapter would no longer be included in the box, so you’ll have to purchase it separately from the Apple Store.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were the first iPhone models to come without the 3.5mm audio adapter in the box. On the other hand, both iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 were offered with the dongle at first.
The change was noticed by reddit user aeppacher who says they work at Verizon.
“Just had a customer buy an iPhone 8. I told them they would get a dongle and was surprised to see it missing in the box. I assumed this was a packaging error as the new XS/XS Max don't come with the dongle,” the original post reads.
“I check the packaging and it now no longer mentions the adapter on the what's in the box section. Looks like if you buy an 8/8+ you will no longer get the dongle.”
No longer “in the box”
Several other users who purchased an iPhone recently confirmed a headphone adapter is no longer included. Others, however, claim the dongle is still there, though there’s a chance their iPhone was part of older stock and the change can be seen on units included in new inventory.
Apple’s website no longer lists the headphone adapter for “what’s in the box,” suggesting that it needs to be purchased separately. The adapter is sold at Apple Stores for $9.99.
New iPhones still come with the Lightning cable headphones, but this decision is likely to impact a significant number of customers who wanted to use their own third-party headphones with their smartphones.