You have bought an iPad that doesn’t have a headphone jack or thinking of purchasing an iPad with the foremost priority of having a headphone jack. If this is the case, then you are at the right place because today, I’m going to tell you all about iPads and their headphone jacks.
I’ll be honest with you, Apple fans out there, don’t take it too harshly, but Apple has been known for taking away the basic features and privileges from its buyers for the last couple of years. From removing the charger brick from the latest iPhone bundles to removing headphone jacks from the iPads.
This unicorn giant is very radical and unforgiving in the way it phases out its product features that they consider as “outdated” or for an “environmental” cause, which is, in my opinion, ironic.
The iPad lineup got the first taste of missing headphone jacks from the iPad Pro 3rd generation models, which were released after October 2018. The absence of headphone jacks was also evident in the later iPad Air and Mini variants. So how do you get a workaround for the missing iPad headphone jacks at this point?
Let me tell you there is nothing to worry about in this situation. I have got it all covered for you. Now here comes your USB-C port to the rescue, for which you will need to purchase a dongle that will work as an intermediate for the wired headphones and the USB-C port.
So, without any further delays, let us dive deeply into the headphone jacks of iPads. My guide will walk you through the iPad models that come with the headphone jack and that come without the headphone jack. And additionally, I will tell you about some workarounds to connect wired headphones to iPads without the headphone jack.
Table of Contents
Are Headphone Jacks Included In The iPad?
So let me address your main question: Does the iPad have a headphone jack?
Well, technically not, but you can still find preceding models of iPads with headphone jacks as Apple stripped only the recent models of iPads.
1. 2021 iPad Models
The year 2021 saw Apple release four iPad Pro models: the iPad Pro (12.9″) 5th generation, the iPad Pro (11″) 3rd generation, the iPad 9th generation, and the iPad mini 6th generation (good for drawing). I still thank god for letting Apple provide a headphone jack on the standard iPad 9th gen that was launched amid other iPads in 2021.
Only the iPad 9th gen doesn’t have a USB-C port for charging, while all the other models come with that feature. If you go on Amazon, it will show you a plethora of dongles and adaptors for various devices. Look for one with a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter if you want to use it with the iPad headphone jack.
2. 2020 iPad Models
Apple released several iPads in 2020, which included the iPad Pro (12.9″) 4th gen, iPad Pro (11″) 2nd gen, iPad Air 4th gen, and the standard iPad 8th gen.
This year too, only the predecessor of the iPad 9th gen, i.e.,iPad 8th gen) was the only model with a headphone jack. But I have good news for other iPad 2020 owners. You guys who want to use wired headphones with other iPad 2020 models can get an iPad-compatible USB-C to 3.5mm adapter from online marketplaces like Amazon.
3. 2019 iPad Models
I want to share a fascinating fact that Apple skipped the release of a new iPad Pro model in 2019. The iPads from 2019 were the iPad 7th gen, iPad Air 3rd gen, and the iPad Mini 5th gen. Back then, all these iPads came with a headphone jack to directly plug in your headphones and enjoy an immersive sound experience.
4. 2018 iPad Models
The iPad lineup of this mentioned year includes the iPad Pro (12.9″) 3rd gen, iPad Pro (11″) 1st gen, and regular iPad 6th gen. Like every year, the standard iPad 6th gen had the headphone jack integrated into it. 2018 saw the deletion of 3.5mm headphone jacks from both iPad Pro models.
For a reminder, the Pro models released in 2018 without the headphone jack, a USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter is all you need to connect the wired headphones.
5. iPad 2017 Models & Earlier
Some of you will be relieved to hear that almost all iPads released in 2017 or earlier have a headphone jack. You don’t have to spend hours on the internet trying to select adapters from different third-party brands if you own any of these older models.
These earlier iPads didn’t come with a USB-C port but a Lightning charging port for their power supply and a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting wired headphones.
Now, I’ll address some interesting feature changes that the entire lineup of iPad has gone through.
Location Of Headphone Jacks
Depending on the iPad, headphone jacks can be found either at the top or bottom, alongside the speaker grills. Apple’s method of positioning headphone jacks on its tablet needs to be more uniform.
Why Are Headphone Jacks Being Phased Out?
One of the main reasons Apple is slowly phasing out headphone jacks is to make their tablets slimmer and lighter. Also, dumping the headphone jack makes their devices more resistant to water damage. While these reasons sound very legit, they are doing this to sell more of their wireless audio accessories.
FAQs
So, by now, you have abundant knowledge about iPad’s headphone jacks, and directly I will address some of the questions that some of you might still have in your mind.
- Are iPads available on the market that come with headphone jacks?
Yeah, I know it can get confusing sometimes, but most iPads released before 2019, except for the Pros, will have headphone jacks. So, it depends on the particular model and the year of the iPad you are getting if that will have the headphone jack or not. Although in 2020-21, Apple released some new iPads that ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack for a USB-C port which I have mentioned above.
- Can I connect my iPad headphones?
Your iPad model type and year decide how you can connect your wired headphones. If you have an iPad with a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can plug your wired headphones into the jack and listen to your favorite songs.
Still, if you have an iPad with no 3.5mm headphone jack, you can either use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter to connect your headphones or a wireless headphone that will connect to your iPad via Bluetooth.
- Can the 2021 iPad series be connected to wired headphones?
Only the regular iPad 2021 (9th hen) model comes with a headphone jack. All the other iPad models released in 2021 lack the headphone jack.
- My iPad Pro does not have a headphone jack. What do I do?
If you have an iPad model released before 2019, except the Pros, it must have a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can easily plug the headphone wire in and enjoy music. If your iPad Pro lacks a headphone jack, you can connect wireless headphones, such as AirPods, via Bluetooth or use a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect wired headphones.
Conclusion
This guide has helped clear your confusion regarding iPad headphone jacks and what they do and do not offer on some models. It is clear from the picture that most of the recent iPad models do not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Your wired headphones can, however, be connected using a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter.
You can also connect wireless headphones via Bluetooth if you prefer. So, enjoy listening to music and watching videos with a more inclusive ambiance using headphones on your iPad. If you still have doubts, you can revisit this article anytime or drop your questions below.
Ben Scott is a prominent technology journalist and reviewer, specializing in tablet devices. He is known for his comprehensive and unbiased reviews of tablets from various manufacturers.
With a deep understanding of tablet technology, including hardware components, operating systems, and software applications, Scott provides clear and informative reviews accessible to readers of all levels of technical expertise.
His attention to detail and in-depth analysis have earned him a loyal following of readers.