Apple is known for taking away basic privileges from its buyers. From removing the charger from the latest iPhone bundles to removing the iPad headphones jack, the Cupertino giant is downright radical in the way it phases out its product features.
The lack of a headphone jack is apparent on iPad Pro 3rd generation models released after October 2018. The iPad headphones jack is also missing from later iPad Air and Mini variants. So how do you get a workaround for the missing iPad headphones jack? You will need to purchase a dongle to use your wired headphones with the USB-C port on your iPad.
This guide will walk you through the iPad headphones jack models and the iPads without headphones jack. Additionally, we will suggest some workarounds for the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack on your iPad.
iPad Headphones Jack: Is it Included?
Does iPad have a headphone jack? Apple stripped some of the recent iPad models while the preceding models still feature a headphone jack.
iPad 2021 Models
Apple released a bunch of iPads in 2021, including the iPad Pro (12.9″) 5th gen, iPad Pro (11″) 3rd gen, iPad 9th gen, and the iPad mini 6th gen. The standard iPad 9th generation is the only (lucky) iPad that retained a headphone jack amid other iPad models released in 2021.
Except for the iPad 9th gen, all the other 2021 iPad models have a USB-C port for charging. A simple Amazon search yields a variety of dongles with a wide range of connector adaptors. To use one for the iPads headphone jack, you need to look for the one with a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter.
iPad 2020 Models
In 2020, the Cupertino giant released several iPads. We got the iPad Pro (12.9″) 4th gen, iPad Pro (11″) 2nd gen, iPad Air 4th gen, and the standard iPad 8th gen.
Among all the new models released by Apple in 2020, the standard iPad 8th gen is the only model with a headphone jack. Users who want to use wired headphones with iPad 2020 models can get an iPad-compatible USB-C to 3.5mm adapter from online marketplaces like Amazon.
iPad 2019 Models
The 2019 lineup of iPads includes the iPad 7th gen, iPad Air 3rd gen, and the iPad Mini 5th gen. From the 2019 lineup, all the iPads feature a headphone jack connector, so you can simply plug in your headphones to the device and enjoy listening to music. Interestingly, Apple skipped releasing a new iPad Pro model in 2019.
iPad 2018 Models
The 2018 lineup of iPads includes the iPad Pro (12.9″) 3rd gen, iPad Pro (11″) 1st gen, and regular iPad 6th gen. From the 2018 iPad lineup, both iPad Pro models lacked a 3.5mm headphone jack. But the regular iPad 6th gen retained the headphone jack.
For the models without the headphone jack, USB-C to 3.5mm adapter is all you need to connect them with wired headphones.
iPad 2017 Models & Earlier
Almost all iPads released in 2017 and earlier have a headphone jack. You won’t have to worry about the iPad headphones jack if you own any of these older models. These earlier iPads have a Lightning charging port for their power supply and a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting wired headphones.
Do iPads Have Headphone Jacks?
Do iPads have headphone jacks? To answer your question fair and square, we have compiled a table that will give you a rundown of all the iPad headphones jack models and the ones without the headphone jack.
| Apple iPad Models | Release Year | iPad Headphones Jack |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro (5th Gen) | April 20, 2021 | No |
| iPad Air (5th Gen) | March 18, 2022 | No |
| iPad (9th Gen) | September 24, 2021 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (6th Gen) | September 24, 2021 | No |
| iPad Air (4th Gen) | October 23, 2020 | No |
| iPad (8th Gen) | September 18, 2020 | Yes |
| iPad Pro (4th Gen) | March 25, 2020 | No |
| iPad (7th Gen) | September 25, 2019 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (5th Gen) | March 18, 2019 | Yes |
| iPad Air (3rd Gen) | March 18, 2019 | Yes |
| iPad Pro (3rd Gen) | October 30, 2018 | No |
| iPad (6th Gen) | March 27, 2018 | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch/ 10.5-inch (2nd Gen) | June 13, 2017 | Yes |
| iPad (5th Gen) | March 24, 2017 | Yes |
| iPad Pro 12.9 inch (1st Gen) | November 11, 2015 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (4th Gen) | September 9, 2015 | Yes |
| iPad Air 2 | October 22, 2014 | Yes |
Location of headphone jacks
When it comes to the location of headphone jacks on iPads, you will either find them at the top of the iPad or the bottom next to the speaker grills. For some reason, Apple did not maintain uniformity in the placement of headphone jacks on its tablet.
What to do if iPad doesn’t have headphone jacks
If iPad doesn’t have headphone jacks, they can be connected to an iPad-compatible USB-C to 3.5mm dongle to keep using wired headphones. At one end, these dongles have a USB-C mount that connects to the iPad’s lightning port, while the other end of the dongle has a 3.5mm headphone jack that can connect to any wired headphone.
Why are headphone jacks being phased out?
One of the reasons brands use to explain why they are phasing out headphone jacks is that it takes a significant amount of space on thin devices where every cubic millimeter matters. Also, by dumping the headphone jack, brands can make their devices more resilient to water damage. While these reasons sound pretty legit, we think that brands are doing it to make way for their wireless audio accessories (Read: How to Connect AirPods to iPad).
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we know about the iPad headphones jack, let’s answer some related questions.
Is there a headphone jack on iPad?
Most of the iPads released before 2019 featured headphone jacks. However, in 2020-21, Apple released some new iPad models that ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack for a USB-C port.
How do I connect headphones to my iPad?
Connecting your headphones to the iPad depends on your iPad type. If you have an iPad with a headphones jack, you can simply plug your wired headphones into the port. However, if you have an iPad that lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can either use a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter to connect your wired headphones or use a wireless headphone and connect it via Bluetooth.
Does 2021 iPad have headphone jack?
Except for the regular iPad 2021 (9th gen), all the other models released in 2021 lacked a headphone jack.
How do I connect headphones to my iPad Pro?
If your iPad Pro has a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can easily plug the wire into it and enjoy music. However, if your iPad Pro lacks a headphone jack, you can either use wireless headphones or earbuds like AirPods to connect via Bluetooth or use a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect the wired headphones.
Conclusion
We hope this guide helps you understand everything about iPad headphones jack and their presence and absence on some models. As you can understand, the 3.5mm headphone jack is absent on most of the recent iPad models. You can, however, use a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter to connect your wired headphones. Alternatively, you can also consider buying wireless headphones to connect via Bluetooth.
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