Apple is known for its continuous improvements and innovations. So when they announced that iPhone 7 doesn’t feature a headphone jack, it was clear this was a brand new trend. The technology behind headphone jacks is frankly outdated. Removing it allowed Apple to add more new features to their products.
As expected, headphone jacks were excluded from some latest iPad models too. However, this doesn’t mean you should throw away your headphones with a 3.5mm plug. For instance, the iPad (9th gen) still has the headphone jack. And there are ways to make the 3.5mm plug work if you want to.
Let’s take a look at the list of iPad models and see which ones have a headphone jack:
Classic iPad
| Release Date | Status | Headphone jack | |
| iPad (1st gen) | April 3, 2010 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad (2nd gen) | March 11, 2011 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad (3rd gen) | March 7, 2012 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad (4th gen) | October 23, 2012 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad (5th gen) | March 21, 2017 | Not supported by Apple | Yes |
| iPad (6th gen) | March 27, 2018 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad (7th gen) | September 25, 2019 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad (8th gen) | September 15, 2020 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad (9th gen) | September 14, 2021 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad (10th gen) | October 26, 2022 | The latest model | No |
The new iPad 10th Gen doesn’t feature a headphone jack, and most likely next-gen classic iPad’s won’t have headphone jacks as well.
Related: Which iPhone Have Headphone Jack?
iPad Mini
| Release Date | Status | Headphone jack | |
| iPad Mini (1st gen) | November 2, 2012 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad Mini (2nd gen) | November 12, 2013 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad Mini (3rd gen) | October 22, 2014 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad Mini (4th gen) | September 9, 2015 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Mini (5th gen) | March 18, 2019 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Mini (6th gen) | September 24, 2021 | The latest model | No |
iPad Air
| Release Date | Status | Headphone jack | |
| iPad Air (1st gen) | November 1, 2013 | Obsolete | Yes |
| iPad Air (2nd gen) | October 22, 2014 | Obsolete but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Air (3rd gen) | March 18, 2019 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Air (4th gen) | October 23, 2020 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Air (5th gen) | March 18, 2022 | The latest model | No |
iPad Pro
| Release Date | Status | Headphone jack | |
| iPad Pro (1st gen) 12.9-inch | November 11, 2015 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Pro 9.7-inch | March 31, 2016 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Pro (2nd gen) 12.9-inch | June 13, 2017 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Pro 10.5-inch | June 13, 2017 | Discontinued but still supported | Yes |
| iPad Pro (3rd gen) 12.9-inch | November 7, 2018 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Pro (1st gen) 11-inch | November 7, 2018 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Pro (4th gen) 12.9-inch | March 25, 2020 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Pro (2nd gen) 11-inch | March 25, 2020 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Pro (5th gen) 12.9-inch | May 24, 2021 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Pro (3rd gen) 11-inch | May 24, 2021 | Discontinued but still supported | No |
| iPad Pro (6 gen) 12.9-inch | October 26, 2022 | The latest model | No |
| iPad Pro (4th gen) 11-inch | October 26, 2022 | The latest model | No |
How Do I Connect Wired Headphones To My iPad?
There is no need to buy new headphones because your iPad doesn’t have a 3.5mm jack. The solution to this problem is an Adapter that will allow you to use a 3.5mm audio aux. This is the only way how you can connect wired headphones to an iPad.
With this adapter, you will be able to connect wired headphones to iPad & iPhone even if it doesn’t have 3.5mm audio aux(headphone jack) As long as your iPad/iPhone has a USB Type-C port
With this adapter, you will be able to connect wired headphones to iPad & iPhone even if it doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio aux(headphone jack) As long as your iPad/iPhone has a Lightning port.
This small accessory allows you to continue using your wired headphones on iPads and iPhones that don’t have a headphone jack.
If you don’t mind splurging a bit, you could invest in a pair of Bluetooth headphones. They are super convenient and provide you with more mobility as you use your iPad. Finally, you can also get headphones that have a USB-C connector. These are more affordable than Bluetooth headphones and are an excellent option when on a budget.
The easiest way, of course, is to get the adapter.
All iPads that have headphone jacks
Let’s create a quick list of all the iPads that have headphone jacks in chronological order
| Release Date | Headphone Jack | |
| iPad (1st gen) | April 3, 2010 | Yes |
| iPad (2nd gen) | March 11, 2011 | Yes |
| iPad (3rd gen) | March 7, 2012 | Yes |
| iPad (4th gen) | October 23, 2012 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (1st gen) | November 2, 2012 | Yes |
| iPad Air (1st gen) | November 1, 2013 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (2nd gen) | November 12, 2013 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (3rd gen) | October 22, 2014 | Yes |
| iPad Air (2nd gen) | October 22, 2014 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (4th gen) | September 9, 2015 | Yes |
| iPad Pro (1st gen) | November 11, 2015 | Yes |
| iPad (5th gen) | March 21, 2017 | Yes |
| iPad Pro (2nd gen) | June 13, 2017 | Yes |
| iPad (6th gen) | March 27, 2018 | Yes |
| iPad Mini (5th gen) | March 18, 2019 | Yes |
| iPad Air (3rd gen) | March 18, 2019 | Yes |
| iPad (7th gen) | September 25, 2019 | Yes |
| iPad (8th gen) | September 15, 2020 | Yes |
| iPad (9th gen) | September 14, 2021 | Yes |
These are all the iPads available with a headphone jack. We do not recommend getting an outdated iPad. Most likely, it won’t work with the newest apps, and there will be other drawbacks. I actually recommend getting Bluetooth headphones or AirPods, I held back for a while, but honestly, they are great, no wires, no problems, the quality is awesome, and you can get some work done while listening to music.
Summary
iPad needs to establish differences between their tablets. If all of the iPads had the same features, we wouldn’t really buy premium(iPad Pro), but oddly enough, Apple doesn’t consider a headphone jack as a premium feature, and it’s only available for budget iPads. Unlike Face ID, which is only available for iPad Pros.
We don’t expect premium iPads to have headphone jacks again. We believe, and probably Apple believes, that Bluetooth headphones and earbuds are the future.
FAQ
Does the iPad released in 2021 have a headphone jack?
The standard iPad introduced in September 2021 is the only iPad with a headphone jack released last year. It is probably because this iPad (9th generation) is seen as an entry model and is often used in schools. The availability of a headphone jack makes it super convenient for students.
Apple also updated its line of products with a couple of spectacular iPad models in 2021 and 2022. The most notable addition is the iPad Mini (6th generation) which looks like a small iPad Pro. As expected, the new iPad Mini doesn’t have a headphone jack.
Do iPads come with headphones?
Unfortunately, no. Apple never shipped iPads with headphones. If you order one of the iPad models currently available on the Apple Store, the box will contain just the necessary accessories. The standard iPad (9th generation) arrives with a lightning to USB-C cable and USB-C power adapter (20W).
iPad Mini (6th generation) will arrive with a USB-C charging cable and USB-C power adapter (20W). Finally, if you order an iPad Pro (5th generation), you will get a USB-C to USB-C cable and USB-C power adapter (20W).
Related: How Long Do iPads Last?
Ernests is passionate about technology and its potential to enhance productivity. They are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and insights with blog readers. As a user of iPad Pro, iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch, Ernests possesses expertise in these devices and strives to create informative content focused on these topics.