Apple has stopped selling this iPhone accessory and we’re not shocked: here’s why

Last updated:Nov 20, 2024 07:30 IST

Apple has offered the lightning accessory for years, but with a major change in iPhones, it is no longer necessary.

The item is sold out and will likely not return

Apple has been gradually phasing out the Intel models for Macs in recent years, and now another big change is happening behind the scenes. The company still has a few iPhones that support the Lightning connector for charging, but you may have to rush to get the standard headphone jack for these models.

That’s because Apple appears to be ending support and production of this accessory, which isn’t surprising. Last year’s new iPhones support a USB C port, which means you need a completely different accessory to use the headphone jack, and Apple has them available in abundance.

However, stock for the lightning version of the headphone jack may be on its last days. Many regions have reported that the product is out of stock, and wherever you find it, it is likely that the product will run out and never hit the shelves again. The connector allowed you to use the wired earbuds or other wired earphones on the iPhone models without a headphone jack that hit the market since the launch of the iPhone 7 series.

End of the lightning age

Yes, the lightning connector had its time in the spotlight, but not anymore. The company sold the iPhone 7, 8 and the iPhone X model with the connector in the box. Later, it was sold separately for $9 (approximately Rs 840) if people really needed one.

But now that the item is coming off the shelf, it means that the lightning connector is slowly losing its value in the market. And if the lightning-enabled iPhones are discontinued in the coming years, Apple won’t have to invest in making the accessory anymore.

The company was forced to adopt USB C by EU regulators due to the new strict technical rules. And now that Apple supports USB C in all its products, the end of lightning-based accessories was inevitable. This isn’t the first Apple gadget to disappear from the market, and it won’t be the last.