When Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 back in 2016, the world managed to keep turning. Between dongles and AirPods and comes-with-your-iPhone Lightning EarPods, there were a handful of different options to move forward. But when Apple introduced its shiny new 2017 MacBook Pro with three USB Type-C ports, a good old fashioned headphone jack, and nothing else it led to a weird little issue: Apple’s standard iPhone headphones with their Lightning plug had no way to plug into Apple’s flagship computer, which lacks one. For years, it was a problem that no dongle could solve.
Now, at last, that dongle exists though it’s made by Anker and not Apple. With a female Lightning port on one side, and a male USB-C connector on the other, the adapter will finally let you plug your iPhone 7-or-later EarPods into your MacBook (for a price of $30). It’s a bit steep for such a minor convenience, but more worth it if you happen to own one of the few pairs of pricier Lightning headphones like Beats urBeats3, which until now have been relegated to iPhone only.
Since this adapter plugs into a USB port, Lightning headphones are still a bit hamstrung; there’s still no way to plug a pair into a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. But at least now, after several years and with the help of a third-party adapter, two of Apple’s most common gadgets are finally compatible. Steve Jobs would be proud.
