Chinese company advertises new Lightning-to-headphone adapters ahead of Apple's 'iPhone 7'

With Apple's next-generation iPhone rumored to ditch the legacy 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, one Chinese accessory maker is hoping to capitalize on the anticipated switch, and is now advertising a series of Lightning-to-headphone adapters with separate volume controls.

Tama Electric is currently advertising three Lightning-to-headphone adapters, two of which also include a micro USB port for charging while using headphones. The dongles were first spotted by Macotakara.

There are a handful of Lightning-connected headphones currently available on the market, but Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone adapters are not yet sold as certified Made for iPhone accessories. Presumably, if the "iPhone 7" does ditch the headphone jack as rumored, Apple or authorized accessory makers will need to offer some form of adapter for legacy headphones.

The new accessories from Tama do not appear to be available for purchase yet, with no price listed. As such, the products may simply be mockups or concepts, and they most likely are not Made for iPhone certified through Apple.

Rumors about Apple's anticipated iPhone refresh have consistently claimed that the 2016 model will ditch the 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, allowing for a design that could be the thinnest ever. Eliminating the headphone port would leave customers relying on either wireless Bluetooth headphones, or Lightning-connected headphones — with or without an adapter.

Apple is rumored to be working on new Bluetooth EarPods that will pair and charge with a handset through the Lightning port, just like the Apple Pencil does with the iPad Pro. It's expected that those headphones will be sold separately, with a traditional pair of EarPods — wired via Lightning — Â shipping in the box with the next iPhone.

Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone in September, its usual annual timeframe. It's likely to start at the same $649 starting price as Apple's current flagship handset, the iPhone 6s.

38 Comments

lukei 13 Years · 389 comments

About 8 years ago

Why on earth do you need a volume control? Any decent headphones have one.

cpsro 14 Years · 3239 comments

Such adapters might have to have their own digital-to-analog converters, the quality/fidelity of which may vary.

cali 10 Years · 3494 comments

I'm usually the first to complain about removing the headphone jack but I fotgot about adapters. Doesn't seem too shabby.

In iHater news, fandroids are claiming Apple isn't the first to remove the headphone jack. They reached into the abyss of 3,000+ androids and found some obscure Oppo that doesn't have one.

gatorguy 13 Years · 24627 comments

cali said:

I'm usually the first to complain about removing the headphone jack but I fotgot about adapters. Doesn't seem too shabby.

In iHater news, fandroids are claiming Apple isn't the first to remove the headphone jack. They reached into the abyss of 3,000+ androids and found some obscure Oppo that doesn't have one.

I thought it was just a rumor that Apple has removed the headphone jack in the next iPhone. I guess it's been confirmed then?

By the way there's at least three phones from China's LeEco with USB Type-C digital headphone support using the charging port, ditching the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. I wasn't aware that Oppo had too but it's not terribly surprising if they have.

EDIT: You're correct, the Oppo R5 released back in January. First I'd seen about that. Do you know why they ditched the headphone jack? At a ridiculously thin 4.85mm a traditional headphone jack won't fit.

gmgravytrain 8 Years · 884 comments

With the adapter available and it was always likely to happen, I don't see what the big deal was about the Lightning port replacing the standard headphone jack. People yell and moan over nothing before it even happens. Maybe they were complaining about having to pay for the extra cost of the adapter which will likely cost around $30 knowing how companies like to price gouge Apple customers.