Which iPads Have Headphone Jack?

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 The technology behind headphone jacks is frankly outdated.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 DateStatusHeadphone jack
iPad (1st gen)April 3, 2010ObsoleteYes
iPad (2nd gen)March 11, 2011ObsoleteYes
iPad (3rd gen)March 7, 2012ObsoleteYes
iPad (4th gen)October 23, 2012ObsoleteYes
iPad (5th gen)March 21, 2017Not supported by AppleYes
iPad (6th gen)March 27, 2018Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad (7th gen)September 25, 2019Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad (8th gen)September 15, 2020Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad (9th gen)September 14, 2021Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad (10th gen)October 26, 2022The latest modelNo

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 DateStatusHeadphone jack
iPad Mini (1st gen)November 2, 2012ObsoleteYes
iPad Mini (2nd gen)November 12, 2013ObsoleteYes
iPad Mini (3rd gen)October 22, 2014ObsoleteYes
iPad Mini (4th gen)September 9, 2015Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Mini (5th gen)March 18, 2019Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Mini (6th gen)September 24, 2021The latest modelNo

iPad Air


Release DateStatusHeadphone jack
iPad Air (1st gen)November 1, 2013ObsoleteYes
iPad Air (2nd gen)October 22, 2014Obsolete but still supportedYes
iPad Air (3rd gen)March 18, 2019Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Air (4th gen)October 23, 2020Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Air (5th gen)March 18, 2022The latest modelNo

iPad Pro


Release DateStatusHeadphone jack
iPad Pro (1st gen) 12.9-inchNovember 11, 2015Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Pro 9.7-inchMarch 31, 2016Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Pro (2nd gen) 12.9-inchJune 13, 2017Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Pro 10.5-inchJune 13, 2017Discontinued but still supportedYes
iPad Pro (3rd gen) 12.9-inchNovember 7, 2018Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Pro (1st gen) 11-inchNovember 7, 2018Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Pro (4th gen) 12.9-inchMarch 25, 2020Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Pro (2nd gen) 11-inchMarch 25, 2020Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Pro (5th gen) 12.9-inchMay 24, 2021Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Pro (3rd gen) 11-inchMay 24, 2021Discontinued but still supportedNo
iPad Pro (6 gen) 12.9-inchOctober 26, 2022The latest modelNo
iPad Pro (4th gen) 11-inchOctober 26, 2022The latest modelNo

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.

USB Type C to 3.5mm Audio Adapter

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

USB Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Adapter

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 DateHeadphone Jack
iPad (1st gen)April 3, 2010Yes
iPad (2nd gen)March 11, 2011Yes
iPad (3rd gen)March 7, 2012Yes
iPad (4th gen)October 23, 2012Yes
iPad Mini (1st gen)November 2, 2012Yes
iPad Air (1st gen)November 1, 2013Yes
iPad Mini (2nd gen)November 12, 2013Yes
iPad Mini (3rd gen)October 22, 2014Yes
iPad Air (2nd gen)October 22, 2014Yes
iPad Mini (4th gen)September 9, 2015Yes
iPad Pro (1st gen)November 11, 2015Yes
iPad (5th gen)March 21, 2017Yes
iPad Pro (2nd gen)June 13, 2017Yes
iPad (6th gen)March 27, 2018Yes
iPad Mini (5th gen)March 18, 2019Yes
iPad Air (3rd gen)March 18, 2019Yes
iPad (7th gen)September 25, 2019Yes
iPad (8th gen)September 15, 2020Yes
iPad (9th gen)September 14, 2021Yes

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 embutnieks wolfoftablet
Founder & Chief Editor | + posts

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.

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