Which iPhones Have Headphone Jacks?

Last Updated on January 4, 2023 by Ernests Embutnieks

The iPhone has gone through numerous iterations over the years. With features being added and removed, the most controversion decision so far has been the removal of the headphone jack. The removal of the port ushered in a new era of wireless audio entertainment at an unprecedented scale.

With that said, this begs the question, which iPhones have a headphone jack? The quick answer to this question, all iPhones released before the iPhone 7 have a headphone jack. 

In this article, we’re going to explore exactly why Apple removed the headphone jack alongside which models have headphone jacks. 

Which iPhones Have A Headphone Jack?

Here’s a quick list of which iPhones have a headphone jack put up in chronological order. The only bifurcation I did is between the iPhone’s primary models and the tertiary models (the SE / C series.) 

These are released alongside the primary iPhone rather than acting as individual released.

iPhone 

Models	Release Date	Status	Headphone Jack
iPhone (1st gen)	29/6/2007	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone (3G)	11/7/2008	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 3GS	19/6/2009	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 4 (GSM + CDMA)	24/6/2010	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 4S	14/10/2011	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 5	21/9/2012	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 5S	20/9/2013	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 6	19/9/2014	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 6 Plus	19/9/2014	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 6S	25/9/2015	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone 6S Plus	25/9/2015	Obsolete	Yes

iPhone SE / C Series

Models	Release Date	Status	Headphone Jack
iPhone 5C	20/9/2013	Obsolete	Yes
iPhone SE (1st Gen)	24/3/2017	Obsolete	Yes

Why Did Apple Remove The Headphone Jack From iPhone?

Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone to make room in the chassis for a larger battery and better internals. Their secondary reason for removing the headphone jack was to usher in a new era of wireless audio devices.

Conveniently, the release of the iPhone 7 (the first iPhone without a headphone jack) came with the first generation of the Apple AirPods. Apple’s first truly wireless headphones that provided better audio quality than the pre-packaged headphones we were accustomed to.

While the initial transition was quite rough, to say the least, with brands like Samsung criticizing the iPhone for ditching the port, we quickly saw subsequent Samsung phones such as the S20 letting go of the headphone port as well and opting for their own headphones, the Samsung Galaxy Buds.

All in all, it’s clear that Apple acted as a trendsetter in the market. And, for better or for worse, their decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 led to almost every brand in the mobile space following suit. 

Ultimately, Apple decided to remove the headphone jack from other devices that they sold, like the iPad too. 

How To Connect Wired Headphones To iPhone?

You can still connect wired headphones to your iPhone even if it does not have a 3.5mm jack. Your iPhone’s charging port, the Lightning port, is capable of transferring audio signals and can therefore be used as a headphone port.

Now, you are met with three options when it comes to this setup. We’ll be discussing both alongside their disadvantages, advantages, and use cases:

Lightning To 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter

If you have a previous headphone that uses a 3.5mm jack, opting for a simple adapter is the quickest and cheapest option. All you need to do is plug the adapter into your iPhone’s Lightning port and plug your headphones in from the other end.

You’ll now be able to use your headphones with no qualms whatsoever, just like you used to previously. The only disadvantage is the fact that you won’t be able to charge your iPhone at the same time.

Lightning To 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter With Port

This adapter follows the same premise as the one we mentioned previously. But, there’s one important bifurcation. It has an extra Lightning port allowing you to charge your iPhone and use your headphones at the same time. 

However, this solution leads to a larger adapter and an inconvenient setup if you do not need to charge your phone at the same time.

If you don’t have wired headphones and are opting for new ones, then any Bluetooth headphones that you end up liking will work just fine.

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