When I get my new iPhone 7, with the included Lightning EarPods, how will I be able to connect them to my brand new MacBook with Retina display?
Is there an adapter that converts USB-C to Lightning, or the 3.5mm headphone jack to Lightning?
The adapter that comes with the iPhone 7 does not allow you to plug the lightening headphones into a pc via the audio port or USB. The adapter allows you to plug in older headphones into your new phone. The ONLY solution is to use your older headphones with your PC.
Well, a full year after this became a problem, there's still no solution for using a Lightning equipped headphone with a Mac, or other standard audio device.
It was one thing when there wasn't an adapter for use with a free pair of Lightning EarPods which came with the iPhone 7, following which the AirPods came along virtually eliminating the need for using them for many. But, now that Beats has announced a $100 pair of Lightning only earphones, I'm thinking there may finally be a Lightning adapter introduced for use with other devices ...
The fact that no third party has come forward with any type of converter pretty much indicates that the cost of making it, and the retail cost, would be much higher than anyone would want to pay. Would you pay $199 for an adapter to use your free EarPods with your computer?
What free adapter are you talking about coming with the iPhone? It came with an adapter to use a 3.5mm plug with the iPhone. Did you not get one?
You don’t.
Woodwyn wrote:
Not very helpful Philly_Phan. Apple provides a pair of Lightning EarPods with the iPhone 7. Unlike the iPhone 6s & SE, those Lightning EarPods are ONLY compatible with the following (from Apple's website):
COMPATIBILITY
iPhone Models
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
iPad Models
- iPad with Retina display
- iPad mini 2
- iPad Air
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
- iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
iPod Models
And despite some know-it-all's opinions here, this means the Lightning EarPods aren't even compatible with iPad mini 1, the iPod Touch 5, nor the iPod nano currently being sold. They are also not compatible with any Lightning device not running iOS 10.
Also from Apple's Official Support Page as of December 13, 2016:
Use Apple headphones with your iPhone, iPad, and iPod - Apple Support
Not very helpful Philly_Phan. Apple provides a pair of Lightning EarPods with the iPhone 7. Unlike the iPhone 6s & SE, those Lightning EarPods are ONLY compatible with the following (from Apple's website):
COMPATIBILITY
iPhone Models
iPad Models
iPod Models
And despite some know-it-all's opinions here, this means the Lightning EarPods aren't even compatible with iPad mini 1, the iPod Touch 5, nor the iPod nano currently being sold. They are also not compatible with any Lightning device not running iOS 10.
The 3.5mm EarPods are compatible with all Apple devices, including the iPhone 7 with a 3.5mm adapter. Therefore, any person who buys an iPhone 7, will be getting something less in terms of compatibility than what Apple gave them with every previous iPhone and iPod they ever purchased, without informing them explicitly of the limitations. If that person gave away their old iPhone along with the original 3.5mm EarPods, then they will have to buy another set of headphones in order to use them the way in which you suggest with your simplistic view of this problem.
And finally, your solution involves a dongle, an adapter, or whatever you want to call it. Adapters and dongles and such, are not elegant solutions, nor are they generally intended as a permanent fix. You are suggesting them as a permanent fix in order to use one pair of wired headphones between multiple Apple devices, or anything else.
Regardless, you're saying if they had done a little bit of research, they would have, what? Not purchased the iPhone 7 at all? Not purchased a native accessory to use with the iPhone 7 that isn't compatible with anything else? Learned to live with a dongle/adapter with the iPhone 7? Switched to inferior fidelity BlueTooth headphones, which may have performance problems on some devices? Resigned themselves to carrying multiple pairs of headphones?
Ultimately your advice does nothing to help solve the original, legitimate problem (like a few others here) -- which is how to use Lightning headphones on a Macintosh in particular, and other standardized audio interfaces in general. You're totally missing the forest for the trees here.
Woodwyn wrote:
Not very helpful Philly_Phan. Apple provides a pair of Lightning EarPods with the iPhone 7. Unlike the iPhone 6s & SE, those Lightning EarPods are ONLY compatible with the following (from Apple's website):
COMPATIBILITY
iPhone Models
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
iPad Models
- iPad with Retina display
- iPad mini 2
- iPad Air
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
- iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
iPod Models
Which means the Lightning EarPods aren't even compatible with iPad mini 1, the iPod Touch 5, nor the iPod nano currently being sold. They are also not compatible with any Lightning device not running iOS 10.
The 3.5mm EarPods are compatible with all Apple devices, including the iPhone 7 with a 3.5mm adapter. Therefore, any person who buys an iPhone 7, will be getting something less in terms of compatibility than what Apple gave them with every previous iPhone and iPod they ever purchased, without informing them explicitly of the limitations. If that person gave away their old iPhone along with the original 3.5mm EarPods, then they will have to buy another set of headphones in order to use them the way in which you suggest with your simplistic view of this problem.
And finally, your solution involves a dongle, an adapter, or whatever you want to call it. Adapters and dongles and such, are not elegant solutions, nor are they generally intended as a permanent fix. You are suggesting them as a permanent fix in order to use one pair of wired headphones between multiple Apple devices.
Regardless, you're saying if they had done a little bit of research, they would have, what? Not purchased the iPhone 7 at all? Not purchased a native accessory to use with the iPhone 7 that isn't compatible with anything else? Learned to live with a dongle/adapter with the iPhone 7? Switched to inferior fidelity BlueTooth headphones, which may have performance problems on some devices? Resign themselves to carrying multiple pairs of headphones.
Ultimately your advice does nothing to help solve the original, legitimate problem (like a few others here) -- which is how to use Lightning headphones on a Macintosh in particular, and other standardized audio interfaces in general. You're totally missing the forest for the trees here.
I did research before I bought my headphones and I purchased the Bose QC35. I can connect wirelessly OR with a wire to my iPhone-7, my iMac, my MBP and my television audio out. Because of the convenience of the wireless connection, I never use the wire. The QC35 has the added benefit of noise cancellation. The icing on the cake is that the QC35, at $350, is less than half the price of the status headphones that don't do the job for you.
Philly_Phan wrote:
Woodwyn wrote:
Not very helpful Philly_Phan. Apple provides a pair of Lightning EarPods with the iPhone 7. Unlike the iPhone 6s & SE, those Lightning EarPods are ONLY compatible with the following (from Apple's website):
COMPATIBILITY
iPhone Models
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
iPad Models
- iPad with Retina display
- iPad mini 2
- iPad Air
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
- iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
iPod Models
Which means the Lightning EarPods aren't even compatible with iPad mini 1, the iPod Touch 5, nor the iPod nano currently being sold. They are also not compatible with any Lightning device not running iOS 10.
The 3.5mm EarPods are compatible with all Apple devices, including the iPhone 7 with a 3.5mm adapter. Therefore, any person who buys an iPhone 7, will be getting something less in terms of compatibility than what Apple gave them with every previous iPhone and iPod they ever purchased, without informing them explicitly of the limitations. If that person gave away their old iPhone along with the original 3.5mm EarPods, then they will have to buy another set of headphones in order to use them the way in which you suggest with your simplistic view of this problem.
And finally, your solution involves a dongle, an adapter, or whatever you want to call it. Adapters and dongles and such, are not elegant solutions, nor are they generally intended as a permanent fix. You are suggesting them as a permanent fix in order to use one pair of wired headphones between multiple Apple devices.
Regardless, you're saying if they had done a little bit of research, they would have, what? Not purchased the iPhone 7 at all? Not purchased a native accessory to use with the iPhone 7 that isn't compatible with anything else? Learned to live with a dongle/adapter with the iPhone 7? Switched to inferior fidelity BlueTooth headphones, which may have performance problems on some devices? Resign themselves to carrying multiple pairs of headphones.
Ultimately your advice does nothing to help solve the original, legitimate problem (like a few others here) -- which is how to use Lightning headphones on a Macintosh in particular, and other standardized audio interfaces in general. You're totally missing the forest for the trees here.
I did research before I bought my headphones and I purchased the Bose QC35. I can connect wirelessly OR with a wire to my iPhone-7, my iMac, my MBP and my television audio out. Because of the convenience of the wireless connection, I never use the wire. The QC35 has the added benefit of noise cancellation. The icing on the cake is that the QC35, at $350, is less than half the price of the status headphones that don't do the job for you.
Good for you. Still doesn't answer the question originally posed. Nor does it necessarily apply to anyone else's needs. But sure -- why not just interject your opinion where it's not being requested?
Woodwyn wrote:
Philly_Phan wrote:
Woodwyn wrote:
Not very helpful Philly_Phan. Apple provides a pair of Lightning EarPods with the iPhone 7. Unlike the iPhone 6s & SE, those Lightning EarPods are ONLY compatible with the following (from Apple's website):
COMPATIBILITY
iPhone Models
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
iPad Models
- iPad with Retina display
- iPad mini 2
- iPad Air
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
- iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
iPod Models
Which means the Lightning EarPods aren't even compatible with iPad mini 1, the iPod Touch 5, nor the iPod nano currently being sold. They are also not compatible with any Lightning device not running iOS 10.
The 3.5mm EarPods are compatible with all Apple devices, including the iPhone 7 with a 3.5mm adapter. Therefore, any person who buys an iPhone 7, will be getting something less in terms of compatibility than what Apple gave them with every previous iPhone and iPod they ever purchased, without informing them explicitly of the limitations. If that person gave away their old iPhone along with the original 3.5mm EarPods, then they will have to buy another set of headphones in order to use them the way in which you suggest with your simplistic view of this problem.
And finally, your solution involves a dongle, an adapter, or whatever you want to call it. Adapters and dongles and such, are not elegant solutions, nor are they generally intended as a permanent fix. You are suggesting them as a permanent fix in order to use one pair of wired headphones between multiple Apple devices.
Regardless, you're saying if they had done a little bit of research, they would have, what? Not purchased the iPhone 7 at all? Not purchased a native accessory to use with the iPhone 7 that isn't compatible with anything else? Learned to live with a dongle/adapter with the iPhone 7? Switched to inferior fidelity BlueTooth headphones, which may have performance problems on some devices? Resign themselves to carrying multiple pairs of headphones.
Ultimately your advice does nothing to help solve the original, legitimate problem (like a few others here) -- which is how to use Lightning headphones on a Macintosh in particular, and other standardized audio interfaces in general. You're totally missing the forest for the trees here.
I did research before I bought my headphones and I purchased the Bose QC35. I can connect wirelessly OR with a wire to my iPhone-7, my iMac, my MBP and my television audio out. Because of the convenience of the wireless connection, I never use the wire. The QC35 has the added benefit of noise cancellation. The icing on the cake is that the QC35, at $350, is less than half the price of the status headphones that don't do the job for you.
Good for you. Still doesn't answer the question originally posed. Nor does it necessarily apply to anyone else's needs. But sure -- why not just interject your opinion where it's not being requested?
Your original question asked for an answer to a problem that you yourself created. Again, next time investigate before making a purchase.
Philly_Phan wrote:
Woodwyn wrote:
Philly_Phan wrote:
Woodwyn wrote:
Not very helpful Philly_Phan. Apple provides a pair of Lightning EarPods with the iPhone 7. Unlike the iPhone 6s & SE, those Lightning EarPods are ONLY compatible with the following (from Apple's website):
COMPATIBILITY
iPhone Models
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5c
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
iPad Models
- iPad with Retina display
- iPad mini 2
- iPad Air
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Pro (9.7-inch)
- iPad Pro (12.9-inch)
iPod Models
Which means the Lightning EarPods aren't even compatible with iPad mini 1, the iPod Touch 5, nor the iPod nano currently being sold. They are also not compatible with any Lightning device not running iOS 10.
The 3.5mm EarPods are compatible with all Apple devices, including the iPhone 7 with a 3.5mm adapter. Therefore, any person who buys an iPhone 7, will be getting something less in terms of compatibility than what Apple gave them with every previous iPhone and iPod they ever purchased, without informing them explicitly of the limitations. If that person gave away their old iPhone along with the original 3.5mm EarPods, then they will have to buy another set of headphones in order to use them the way in which you suggest with your simplistic view of this problem.
And finally, your solution involves a dongle, an adapter, or whatever you want to call it. Adapters and dongles and such, are not elegant solutions, nor are they generally intended as a permanent fix. You are suggesting them as a permanent fix in order to use one pair of wired headphones between multiple Apple devices.
Regardless, you're saying if they had done a little bit of research, they would have, what? Not purchased the iPhone 7 at all? Not purchased a native accessory to use with the iPhone 7 that isn't compatible with anything else? Learned to live with a dongle/adapter with the iPhone 7? Switched to inferior fidelity BlueTooth headphones, which may have performance problems on some devices? Resign themselves to carrying multiple pairs of headphones.
Ultimately your advice does nothing to help solve the original, legitimate problem (like a few others here) -- which is how to use Lightning headphones on a Macintosh in particular, and other standardized audio interfaces in general. You're totally missing the forest for the trees here.
I did research before I bought my headphones and I purchased the Bose QC35. I can connect wirelessly OR with a wire to my iPhone-7, my iMac, my MBP and my television audio out. Because of the convenience of the wireless connection, I never use the wire. The QC35 has the added benefit of noise cancellation. The icing on the cake is that the QC35, at $350, is less than half the price of the status headphones that don't do the job for you.
Good for you. Still doesn't answer the question originally posed. Nor does it necessarily apply to anyone else's needs. But sure -- why not just interject your opinion where it's not being requested?
Your original question asked for an answer to a problem that you yourself created. Again, next time investigate before making a purchase.
Maybe you should just stop responding to requests for help you have no helpful responses to?
Adding you to my mental ignore list. Cheers.
Woodwyn wrote:
But, now that Beats has announced a $100 pair of Lightning only earphones, I'm thinking there may finally be a Lightning adapter introduced for use with other devices ...
Naah... Clearly one pair is intended for the Mac and other similar devices while the other pair is intended for iPhones. You might have a point if they offered ONLY the Lightning version. Actually, wired earphones are so 20th Century. Wireless is the way to go in this modern era. My headphones interchange easily from my Mac to my iPhone to my television sound adapter.
Woodwyn wrote:
Of course! How silly of me. Clearly it's much better to carry around 2 pair of identical headphones and pay $200 for them, in order to use one $100 pair with an iPhone, and the other pair with a Mac. ;-)
Of course that would be silly. Obviously, you buy the one that works with your Mac because it will also work with your iPhone with the adapter that came with the phone.
Woodwyn wrote:
Of course! How silly of me. Clearly it's much better to carry around 2 pair of identical headphones and pay $200 for them, in order to use one $100 pair with an iPhone, and the other pair with a Mac. ;-)
Well, it IS silly of you. Carry around a 3.5 mm headset and the free 3.5 mm to lightning adapter that comes with your phone. That's just one $100 headset and a free adapter. Whereas what is stuck in your mind is carrying around a $100 lightning headset and an adapter so you can use it with your Mac. In either case you are carrying a headset and an adapter. Except the Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter, if it existed, would not be free.
Philly_Phan wrote:
I can't believe all this back & forth. The solution is simple. Use an old-style 3.5mm set of earbuds. Use the earbuds by themselves when connecting to the MBP and use the 3.5mm-Lightning adapter that came with the iPhone-7 when connecting to the iPhone. Then the only extra baggage is the small adapter.
Rrally? So your solution for me to use these $800 Audeze Lightning headphones bought at the Apple Store with my iPhone 7, is to buy a different set of headphones for use with my MacBook, and carry an adapter for use with my iPhone?
What do you suggest I do with the Audeze headphones, since the Apple return window has expired? Sell them on eBay?
Is Apple supporting Lightning headphones or not? They give them away with the iPhone, they sell them in their stores, the publish specs to design them, and more are becoming available on the market. Yet there's no way to use them on anything but some Lightning Devices, including Macs. Who in their right mind is going to spend $800 on a pair of headphones like that? Or even $30, for a pair of Lightning EarPods also sold at the Apple Store?
Woodwyn wrote:
Philly_Phan wrote:
I can't believe all this back & forth. The solution is simple. Use an old-style 3.5mm set of earbuds. Use the earbuds by themselves when connecting to the MBP and use the 3.5mm-Lightning adapter that came with the iPhone-7 when connecting to the iPhone. Then the only extra baggage is the small adapter.
Rrally? So your solution for me to use these $800 Audeze Lightning headphones bought at the Apple Store with my iPhone 7, is to buy a different set of headphones for use with my MacBook, and carry an adapter for use with my iPhone?
What do you suggest I do with the Audeze headphones, since the Apple return window has expired? Sell them on eBay?
Is Apple supporting Lightning headphones or not? They give them away with the iPhone, they sell them in their stores, the publish specs to design them, and more are becoming available on the market. Yet there's no way to use them on anything but some Lightning Devices, including Macs. Who in their right mind is going to spend $800 on a pair of headphones like that? Or even $30, for a pair of Lightning EarPods also sold at the Apple Store?
Actually, my suggestion is that you do just a tiny bit of investigation prior to spending $800 for headphones.
How Can I Use My Lightning Headphones With My New MacBook?
