When Apple released the iPhone 7 and officially announced the death of the headphone jack was anyone actually excited? Especially since they’re not even giving us their new wireless AirPods with the phone. So what was the point? There were a few reasons Apple removed the headphone jack. First, losing the headphone jack meant the ability to make the iPhone slimmer. The removal of the headphone jack also freed up more space for that’s now used for other purposes, such as the new Force Touch home button and Taptic Engine. Last but not least, Apple wanted to create a better listening experience and lightning audio can produce better sound quality.
While their intentions sound great, most people were upset, and we’ll definitely miss the headphone jack. Since we can’t make it magically reappear, here are a few options you have to listen to your music.
Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter for iPhone 7
Probably the most popular option is the Lightning to 3.5mm adapter simply because Apple is throwing this in for free with your phone so that you can continue to use your favorite headphones with you iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. Simply plug the adapter into the Lightning port and you’ll be able to use any corded headphones you desire. The downside? You can’t charge your phone and listen to headphones at the same time. The solution: yet another adapter. Belkin has created a lightning splitter so you can charge your iPhone 7 while you’re listening to music.
Try Going Cordless
Bluetooth headphones can be a great option, although whether you want to give Apple AirPods a shot is entirely up to you. When you’re working out or on-the-go wireless headphones can be pretty handy to have, but they can also be a small investment compared to their wired counterparts.
Purchase Lightning Headphones for you iPhone 7
Don’t want to cut the cord but hate the annoying adapter? Buy yourself a nice pair of lightning headphones. The new EarPods that come with the iPhone 7 are equipped with the Lightning cord, but if you’re not a fan of Apple’s headphones, there are some other great options out there for you to try. Take a look at some of the best Lightning headphones out there.
Consider Wireless Speakers
If you’re listening to your iPhone in your home, why not toss the headphones entirely and get yourself a nice set of wireless speakers? You can choose from Airplay, Bluetooth, or WiFi speakers to listen to your music. Bonus: you’ll be able to charge your iPhone 7 at the same time without purchasing an extra adapter!
Now that you’re all set up with your iPhone 7 and have figured out how you’re going to deal with the missing headphone jack problem… don’t forget about your old phone! See how much you can sell your old iphone for—you might be able to afford those AirPods after all!