Apple drops bundled 3.5mm adapters from all new iPhones, sticks with 5W USB-A power

In a potential disappointment to some buyers, iPhones are no longer shipping with 3.5mm headphone adapters in the box, and still come with 5-watt power adapters that forego USB-C.

The 3.5mm adapter is missing not just from the iPhone XS and XR, but even older devices that previously came with one, namely the iPhone 7 and 8. Apple hasn't announced the change, but the accessory is conspicuously missing from the "What's in the Box" sections on iPhone product pages.

Without an adapter, iPhones can only reach external audio via Bluetooth, a Lightning cable, or streaming protocols like AirPlay 2 and Google Cast.

Apple is selling a basic Lightning to 3.5mm adapter for $9. Since the launch of the iPhone 7 in 2016, a number of third-party adapters have also joined the market.

The continued inclusion of 5W USB-A power adapters may disappoint people those who have switched over to USB-C elsewhere and/or those wanting fast charging out of the box. An iPhone X can hit 50 percent charge in as little as 30 minutes, but only when using Apple's Lightning to USB-C cable and an adapter with USB-C Power Delivery. That typically means buying a new cable and a MacBook adapter, the cheapest Apple option for the latter being a $49 30-watt unit.

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28 Comments

indieshack 336 comments · 9 Years

About 6 years ago

don't think this is a big surprise, it always comes down to money with Apple.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

Good. I didn't want to pay extra for a dongle I don't use on my iPhone 8 purchased earlier this year. I can't even find it right now. Make it an optional accessory. Will it be the end of Apple? Nah. I'm actually sorta happy it will piss off certain people, the same ones who thought they had Apple by the short hairs when they piously asked, "How do I listen and charge at the same time?"

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

I suppose if I were to get a new phone, I'd go for the AirPods also.

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

I hope the PSU gets the boot next, especially when inductive charging pads become more common.

abolish 14 comments · 10 Years

AppleInsider said:

An iPhone X can hit 50 percent charge in as little as 30 minutes, but only when using Apple's Lightning to USB-C cable and an adapter with USB-C Power Delivery. That typically means buying a new cable and a MacBook adapter, the cheapest Apple option for the latter being a $49 30-watt unit.

I'm so sick of hearing this $49 figure. Every discussion of iPhone charging should mention the 12W charger. That's really the right default recommendation. Let's change the narrative on this.

The $19 12W charger hits 40 percent in 30 minutes, only slightly behind the USB-C options -- and double the speed of the bundled 5W charger.

That really should be the default recommendation when purchasing an iPhone. Spend more if you want but $19 for 2X the charging speed is an extremely good value.