Good news, audiophiles, you’ll be able to use your 3.5mm headphones with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus thanks to an official Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone adapter that comes with each iPhone purchase. The adapter is really easy to use, and isn’t too annoying – you really can’t make it look any better. It’s also really easy to misplace, and you’re probably going to lose one faster than you can explain what a Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack does. Thankfully, Apple will be ready to sell one of these babies in its stores, so don’t despair just yet.
The “Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter” is already listed on Apple’s website and you can buy one for $9. It’s just over what you’d pay for that overpriced coffee you keep drinking, so by Apple standards, it’s a steal.
And yes, you can use it right away with your current iPhone, for practice until the iPhone 7 comes along. “Works with all devices that have a Lightning connector and support iOS 10 or later, including iPod touch, iPad, and iPhone.”
The iPhone 7 will ship with Lightning EarPods in the box, but you’ll need this adapter in case you want to use your more expensive headphones, which probably come with a now-old-fashioned 3.5mm jack.
The AirPods that Apple also unveiled during its iPhone 7 event on Wednesday will ship later this year, and they’ll be completely wireless. At $159, the AirPods are a lot more expensive than the adapter, but the price certainly seems worth it. Replacing lost AirPods will be a huge annoyance for your wallet.
