Apple Eliminates Headphone Jack From Latest-Generation iPad Lineup - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Eliminates Headphone Jack From Latest-Generation iPad Lineup

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.

10th Gen iPad Feature Fanned Pink
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.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....

Top Rated Comments

51 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)
ThomasJL Avatar
51 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)
51 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)
madebybela Avatar
51 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)
51 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 Avatar
51 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)