iPhone 12 mini wired audio not working

My wired Apple EarPods do not work on my iPhone 12 mini. I have tried both the EarPods with a Lightning Connector and the older EarPods using Apple's Lightning to 35mm adapter. A BestBuy technician looked into it (my Apple store is still closed because of COVID) and he determined that my 12 mini can get audio if the adapter is paired with cheaper $10 35mm earbuds, like SkullCandy. Is this a hardware issue with Apple's EarPods or is it a software issue with the 12 mini? I am not a fan of the AirPods (especially their price) and would prefer to use my Apple EarPods (either the Lightning Apple EarPods or the 35mm ones).