When the world officially found out that Apple would omit the headphone jack on the iPhone 7, the internet exploded with both praise and rage. Whether you're happy about the decision or not, the truth is you have a lot of options to enjoy your audio. Here're some of the solutions you can keep in mind.
- Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
- AirPods
- Bluetooth headphones
- Apple Lightning charging dock
- Griffin Bluetooth headphone adapter
- Fuze headphone jack case
- iLDOCK
- Lightning headphones
Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
The most obvious solution is Apple's Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter that ships with every iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. This simple adapter lets you plug your 3.5 mm headphone jack into the Lightning port, but comes with the downside of not being able to charge your iPhone will using it.
AirPods
These are Apple's Bluetooth headphones specifically designed to work with iOS 10. The AirPods look like the standard EarPods, but have no cords whatsoever. They have some neat features, like sensors that can detect when they are in your ears or not, and have the bonus of really quick pairing, making them ideal for serial on-the-go people.
They will run you $159, so they aren't the cheapest option out there.
Bluetooth headphones
Another obvious choice is a pair of Bluetooth headphones that will wirelessly connect to your iPhone. This allows you to enjoy your audio without taking up the Lightning port at all, meaning you can still charge your phone while listening to any audio. Bluetooth headphones can sometimes cost a pretty penny, but that isn't always the case. If you need a place to start your search, check out some of our favorite Bluetooth headphones for the iPhone.
Apple Lightning charging dock
If using the Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter gets you through the day, but you want to come home and be able to charge your iPhone and listen to music, then Apple's Lightning charging dock will work great. You can pick it up for about $49, and while it may not be the most portable option, there's no reason you can't take it with you as long as you have a computer or an outlet where ever you are going.
Griffin Bluetooth headphone adapter
If you're searching for a way to use regular wired headphones without using the Lightning port and not fork over a lot of dough, Griffin's Bluetooth headphone adapter is a great option. By plugging your headphones into the adapter, you can easily control your audio with the playback buttons on the adapter itself. The back of the adapter has a clip allowing you to secure the adapter to your body for safe keeping and it even has the ability to activate Siri.
The price is what makes this product the most enticing: You can pick one up for around $20.
Fuze headphone jack case
Third-party companies have created plenty of solutions for the loss of the headphone jack on iPhone 7, and the folks at Fuze started an Indiegogo campaign to bring back the jack! Their solution is a case that has a 3.5mm jack built into it, meaning you don't have to carry around a separate adapter. Plus, it's also a battery case, which is expected to give you twice the battery life on an iPhone 7. You can still back this project and receive the Fuze headphone jack case for $69; the only setback is it won't ship until sometime in December.
iLDOCK
Another crowdfunded product, the iLDOCK is pretty straightforward. It's a little adapter that converts the Lightning port into a 3.5mm jack and a Lightning port, meaning it should allow you to charge your battery and listen to your phone at the same time. The project blew up on Kickstarter raising $206,895 on its goal of only $5,000.
The best thing about the iLDOCK: You can get one for $10 if you back right now.
Lightning headphones
You could always consider going along with Apple for the Lightning port ride and use the pair of Lightning EarPods included with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus; however, if you're an audiophile and need something with a little more oomph, take a look at some of our favorite Lightning headphones for the iPhone 7.
What do you use?
We want to know how you live in a headphone jack-less world. Let us know what solution you've come up with in the comments below.
