Apple kills off the headphone jack by removing four older iPhones

Many believed that Apple was set to release a refreshed iPhone SE 2, as it looks to reach more low-end consumers. Now, the chances of that happening seem much slimmer. Photo / Getty Images

Apple is saying goodbye to the headphone jack for good.

The firm has completely revamped its iPhone lineup and, in the process, has decided some older models no longer make the cut.

To make way for the brand new iPhone Xr, Xs and Xs Max, Apple has discontinued the iPhone SE, 6S/6S Plus and even the 10th anniversary 'X,' which only debuted last September, said the Daily Mail.

It also means that Apple no longer sells any phones with 3.5mm headphone jacks.

Apple debuted the 6S in late 2015 and the device quickly gained in popularity. It makes sense that Apple is now ditching the 6, as the firm typically limits its lineup to the three most recent generations.

The removal of the iPhone SE also isn't terribly surprising, as Apple is billing the iPhone Xr as its 'budget' device (no matter it still carries a $749 price tag), plus it offers the iPhone 7 for $449.

That's still more than the iPhone SE, however, which sold for $399, making it the cheapest iPhone the firm had sold.

Many believed that Apple was set to release a refreshed iPhone SE 2, as it looks to reach more low-end consumers and break into developing markets. Now, the chances of that happening seem much slimmer.

Eliminating the headphone jack is also a noteworthy move.

The decision is likely to alienate some holdouts who still use the old school wired headphones offered by Apple over the years and haven't yet embraced the lightning cable.

Now, it appears Apple is moving full steam ahead with the headphone jack-less design, which makes sense given that it offers products like the AirPods wireless headphones.

Users who have an iPhone 6, 6S, 5S or SE can still install Apple's latest software update, iOS 12, which is due to arrive on September 17th.

However, avoiding Apple's requisite dongle, which enables users to plug 3.5mm headphones into the Lightning connector, is now impossible.

The 6S and the SE were the last iPhone models to have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Those devices, plus the iPhone X, are no longer available through Apple's website.

Apple first signaled the end of the headphone jack in 2016, when it introduced the iPhone 7, which features a lightning connector.

The firm infamously remarked that it had the 'courage' to move away from the headphone jack, prompting some ridicule from users.

Getting rid of the headphone jack also allows newer iPhones to be thinner by a few millimeters.

None of Apple's new iPhones feature a home button, which could mean that technology is on its way out.

More and more smartphones feature edge-to-edge screen designs that get rid of the physical button, relying instead on gesture-based controls to navigate.