Honestly, if you're out shopping for a new tablet and wondering, does the iPad have a headphone jack, the short answer is probably not what you want to hear. Apple basically killed the port across its entire modern catalog. It's a bit of a bummer, especially if you have a pair of high-end wired cans or just hate the lag that comes with Bluetooth.
For a long time, the entry-level "budget" iPad was the lone survivor. It was like that one friend who refused to get a smartphone until 2018. But when the iPad 10th Generation landed with its colorful redesign and USB-C port, the 3.5mm jack was officially shown the door.
Today, if you walk into an Apple Store and point at any new model—the Pro, the Air, the mini, or the standard iPad—none of them have that familiar circular hole.
The Current State of the iPad Lineup
As of 2026, the transition is complete. Apple’s "courageous" move to remove the jack started with the iPad Pro back in 2018 and slowly worked its way down the food chain. Here is the reality of the current models:
- iPad Pro (M4 and M5 models): No jack. These are thin. Like, "don't sit on it" thin. Apple argues there's simply no room for the internal housing of a 3.5mm port.
- iPad Air (M2 and M3 models): No jack.
- iPad mini (A17 Pro and newer): Definitely no jack. It’s too small for Apple to justify the space.
- iPad (10th Gen and the 2026 A19 model): No jack. This was the final nail in the coffin for the "student" iPad.
The only way you're getting a native headphone jack on an iPad today is by hunting down the iPad 9th Generation. That model was the end of an era. It’s still floating around on refurbished sites or deep in the inventory of some big-box retailers, but it’s getting long in the tooth. It still uses the old Home button and the Lightning port, so it feels like a relic from a different century.
Why Did Apple Actually Remove It?
Depending on who you ask, you'll get two very different answers. Apple tells you it's about "internal volume." Inside a tablet, every millimeter counts. They'd rather use that space for a bigger battery, a better haptic engine, or more complex camera sensors.
The more cynical (and probably realistic) take? It’s about the ecosystem. Apple wants you to buy AirPods. When you remove the easiest way to use wired headphones, a pair of $249 wireless buds starts looking a lot more attractive. It also created a massive market for dongles and adapters.
How to Use Wired Headphones Anyway
Just because the port is gone doesn't mean your headphones are useless. You just need to join the "Dongle Life."
The USB-C to 3.5mm Adapter
This is the most common fix. It’s a tiny, nine-dollar piece of plastic and wire. You plug one end into the iPad's USB-C port and the other into your headphones.
Pros: It’s cheap and the audio quality is actually surprisingly good because the adapter has its own tiny Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC).
Cons: You can’t charge your iPad while you’re listening unless you buy a more expensive "splitter" adapter.
👉 See also: Why Developer Secrets Part 2 Is Still the Best Kept Reality of Modern Software Teams
USB-C Headphones
You can skip the adapter entirely and buy headphones that have a USB-C plug at the end. Apple actually sells a USB-C version of their classic EarPods. They’re like twenty bucks and work perfectly for Zoom calls or casual listening.
USB-C Hubs
If you're using your iPad for work—maybe you’re a photographer or a musician—you probably need a hub. These plug into the USB-C port and give you back the headphone jack, along with HDMI, SD card slots, and extra USB ports.
Real-world tip: Look for brands like Anker or Satechi. They make hubs that actually clip onto the corner of the iPad Pro so they don't just dangle there awkwardly.
The Latency Problem: Why Pros Still Care
For most people, Bluetooth is fine. You’re watching Netflix or listening to a podcast; a half-second delay doesn't matter because the software syncs the audio.
But if you’re a musician using GarageBand or a video editor using LumaFusion, Bluetooth is a nightmare. You hit a key on a virtual piano, and the sound reaches your ears a fraction of a second later. It’s maddening. This is why the lack of a jack hits the "Pro" crowd the hardest. Using a wired connection—even through a dongle—is the only way to get zero-latency audio.
What You Should Do Next
If you're looking at a new iPad and the lack of a jack is a dealbreaker, you have a few specific paths forward.
- Check the 9th Gen: If you absolutely must have the jack and don't care about having the fastest processor, find a refurbished 9th Gen iPad. It’s still a solid device for basic tasks and note-taking.
- Buy the Dongle Now: Don't wait until you're on a plane to realize you can't plug in. Grab the official Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapter when you buy the tablet. It’s better than the third-party ones which often fail after a month.
- Invest in a DAC: If you’re an audiophile, use this as an excuse to buy a portable DAC like the Fiio KA1. It’ll plug into your USB-C port and actually make your high-end headphones sound better than the old built-in jack ever could.
Ultimately, the headphone jack isn't coming back. We've reached the point where the port is considered "legacy technology" in the eyes of designers in Cupertino. It's a bit of an adjustment, but with a ten-dollar adapter, it’s a problem that’s easily solved.