Belkin intros Lightning to headphone jack cable for iPhone 7 and newer
Accessory maker Belkin on Tuesday launched a straightforward 3.5mm-to-Lightning audio cable, offering a way for owners of recent iPhones to connect to 3.5-millimeter headphones and speakers.
The MFi-certified cable converts digital signals to analog, and is available in 3- and 6-foot versions. It's intended for the iPhone 7, 8, and X, which would otherwise require adapter dongles. Apple began stripping out headphone jacks with the iPhone 7, preferring Lightning and Bluetooth instead.
Online orders are now open. The 3-foot cable is $29.99, and the 6-foot version is $34.99.
It's uncertain whether or not Apple will include a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter with this year's iPhones. Removal has so far been speculative, but might also make sense, since it costs the company extra and iPhone buyers will have had two years to go wireless or get needed adapters and cables.
At the same time, 3.5-millimeter jacks remain an audio industry standard, even still on many Apple products with lesser space and waterproofing constraints like Macs, iPads, and Beats headphones.
The MFi-certified cable converts digital signals to analog, and is available in 3- and 6-foot versions. It's intended for the iPhone 7, 8, and X, which would otherwise require adapter dongles. Apple began stripping out headphone jacks with the iPhone 7, preferring Lightning and Bluetooth instead.
Online orders are now open. The 3-foot cable is $29.99, and the 6-foot version is $34.99.
It's uncertain whether or not Apple will include a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter with this year's iPhones. Removal has so far been speculative, but might also make sense, since it costs the company extra and iPhone buyers will have had two years to go wireless or get needed adapters and cables.
At the same time, 3.5-millimeter jacks remain an audio industry standard, even still on many Apple products with lesser space and waterproofing constraints like Macs, iPads, and Beats headphones.
Comments
and even easier to do
The photo shows a cable with a lightning connector on one end and a male 3.5mm jack on the other end. Wouldn’t you need a female 3.5mm jack to plug your headphones into?
In any case, thank you Belkin. It's appreciated. But for me, I need the adapter that includes charging, 'cause I don't have a wireless charging pad in my car yet. Nonetheless, for short uses, it's a life saver. You can finally change a pair of quality headphones into lightning headphones.
Higher end headphones have female analog jacks and no permanent cord attached. For the cheaper ear bud stuff with a permanent cord then yes.
However, I think the main purpose of this cable is for jacking into a car stereo or any portable speaker, or audio input AUX jack.
While this is one less adapter to carry around for a dedicated function, I'd rather just buy a much less expensive 3.5mm male to male cord to use with the free adapter Apple gives you in the box, and be ready for any situation one might find oneself in.
And still no way to use a pair of Lightning headphones on a Mac.
Looks like it's solely for use with stereo AUX inputs, or strictly music use with voice capable headphones.
Listening to audio is, has always, and always will be a biologically analog experience! Well.. at least until Apple figure out a way to plug directly into your brain and pump digital signals into an implanted chip in your head! Having a lightning to 3.5 jack or whatever is basically just doing the same thing the old port used to do... change a digital signal to an analog one! It just means another clumsy, expensive and unnecessary additional adapter to carry around.
There are so many great sounding headphones available to listen to music with and nearly all of them use the TRS standard type jack. Apples offerings, while adequate, could be much better. Beats are certainly not among these. Workarounds are unacceptable for such expensive devices. Choice would be better.