A new research note from Barclays reported on by MacRumors has seemingly confirmed a report earlier this year that Apple will be omitting its Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter from this year’s iPhone lineup. Back in April, Barclays lowered its revenue guidance for Cirrus Logic — the supplier of the audio components in the adapter — on what appeared to the speculative belief that Apple was planning to exclude the dongle this year.
Although the company’s analysts accurately predicted that the adapter would be included with Apple’s 2017 iPhone lineup, they noted that it would take until later in the year until they know for sure. It appears now, however, that Cirrus Logic has confirmed that the dongle won’t be bundled with any of this year’s iPhone models.
The removal of the headphone adapter — which Apple sells separately for $9 — may not come as much of a surprise considering Apple’s continuing push toward wireless headphones, including its own current AirPods and its Beats models as well as rumours of new on-ear headphones. However, even though the headphone adapter was included with all of Apple’s 2016 and 2017 iPhones, it remains a popular accessory, with MacRumors reporting last month that it’s Best Buy’s second-best selling Apple product in terms of unit sales; although Apple’s AirPods still remain in first place, unit sales of the Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter reflect only users who are replacing or supplementing their original adapter.
