When Apple ditched the headphone jack from the iPhone range back in 2016, the company reached an uneasy compromise with its user base.
For those resistant to the wireless audio revolution, the company bundled-in a free 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter, enabling folks to continue using wired headphones at a minor inconvenience.
Two years on Apple may be ready to cut that cord, so to speak.
A Barclays analyst reckons Apple will not provide the headphone jack adapter with the 2018 iPhones.
In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, Blayne Curtis wrote: “We currently model no dongle this year.”
This remains a guess on the part of the analysts, but such a move would enable Apple to save a few bucks when distributing its new iPhones.
Those who still want to use their wired headphones will have to fork over £9/$9 for the adapter instead.
It could theoretically mean Apple is planning to revamp the EarPods headphones with a Lightning connector.
Related: Apple AirPods review
More likely, Apple wants to push iPhone buyers towards its AirPods headphones, which weren’t available when the company initially ditched the headphone jack with the iPhone 7.
The £159 completely wireless buds can be easily paired with the more recent iOS devices and can be charged on-the-go thanks to a battery-equipped case.
AirPods are also an improvement over the bundled EarPods currently shipped with iPhone handsets when it comes to sound quality.
In our recently-updated review we praised the AirPods strong Bluetooth connection, great battery life and W1 chip.
The 7/10 score reflected the less-than-perfect fit, love-or-loathe design and average sound quality compared to comparatively-priced wireless buds.
Would you be annoyed if Apple dropped the Lightning adapter from the iPhone box this year? Or have you already transitioned to AirPods? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
