The first is called Standard Lightning Headphones, which uses minimum components when paired to a digital-to-analog converter.

The specification includes two configurations for headphones. In addition, the headphones can be made to work specifically with a companion iOS app and launch a specific app when connected to an iOS device.

Manufacturers will be able to take advantage of Apple Headphone Remote controls like Volume Up/Down/etc, as well as other buttons for launching specific apps such as iTunes Radio or initiating playback controls on iOS. The input means that the headphones will also support a microphone for audio input following Apple’s upcoming update. The Lightning headphones will be capable of receiving lossless stereo 48 kHz digital audio output from Apple devices and sending mono 48 kHz digital audio input. Apple has introduced new specifications for manufacturers in the company's Made for iPhone (MFi) program that allow them to create headphones that connect to iOS devices via a Lightning cable rather than a regular 3.5mm headphone jack, according to 9to5Mac.

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