Up until Apple released the iPhone 7, iPhones had normal headphone jacks and separate Lightning ports for charging. With the iPhone 7, both ports merged into a single Lightning port meaning you can either listen to music (with Lightning headphones) or charge your phone–but not both at the same time. Well, here’s some good news: several third party manufacturers are now coming out with adapters that allow you to listen to music and charge your iPhone 7 at the same time!
All the chargers in this article will work for all current iPhone models including iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone Xs, iPhone Xr, iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro max. You can also use them with iPads and iPad Pros.
How to charge iPhone and listen to headphones at the same time:
Belkin Rockstar 3.5 mm Audio and Lightning Splitter
If you want a reliable dongle from a trusted brand name, the Belkin Rockstar is a great option for iPhone owners. It’s available in two styles depending on what type of headphones you have, a 3.5 mm audio port for traditional headphones, and a lightning port.
Like all of these adapters, it doesn’t support audio split, but you can listen to music and charge your phone at the same time. It also supports passthrough charging up to 12W so you can use it will your iPhone or iPad. Supports up to 48 KHz, 24 bit audio output.
2 in 1 Lightning to 3.5mm Adapter for iPhone
If you need flexibility with your cables, especially if they’re often bending at opposing angles, this lightning and audio splitter is perfect for charging your iPhone while listening to music at the same time. This one is different from other splitters because instead of being a brick shaped port splitter, it offers a flexible cable and both a Lightning port and a normal headphone jack. Some users might find this more convenient or desirable because they may feel it has less of a chance of snapping off or stressing the inside of their iPhone 12’s Lightning port. It’s perfect for using in the car to connect to the stereo or at your desk while you work.
2 in 1 Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Audio Adapter & Charging Cable
This Lightning to headphone jack adapter offers both a traditional headphone jack and a Lightning charging port so you can listen to music and charge your iPhone at the same time. It comes in white and features a flexible cable attachment. This model supports simultaneous charging and audio output and has a built-in volume control and pause/play button.
This splitter requires no additional software, just plug and play. It works with all iPhones and iPads and easily lets you listen to music on your traditional headphones, car stereo, or home stereo via the 3.5mm AUX headphone port. Comes with a 12-month warranty for technical support.
3 in 1 iPhone Headphone Splitter
This headphone splitter gives you the most options, thanks to it’s 3 in 1 ports. It plugs directly into the lightning port on your iPhone and gives three port options: 1 lightning charging port, one 3.5 mm audio port, and one lightning audio port. This allows you to charge your iPhone and listen to music no matter what type of headphones you have with you.
Supports up to 48kHz, 24-bit audio output, provides high fidelity and lossless audio experience for your entertainment.
Additional factors to consider when listening to music while charging your iPhone
Taking cell phone calls – Some of these adapters don’t allow you to use your headphones while you’re talking on the phone and using this adapter, so pay attention to the descriptions of the splitters before you buy them. Some have call control and microphones built into the adapter itself to make up for this.
Changing volume with a remote – Many of these adapters also don’t have the ability to pass through remote control signals even if your headphones have in-line remotes for your phone. Some adapters have their own controls though, so you could use those instead. Pay attention to the descriptions to see what features are supported.
Are there other solutions to this problem? You bet. If you get a pair of Bluetooth headphones you can use the Lightning port on your cell phone for charging while you listen to music without an issue.