iPhone wired ethernet + charging + headset solution for app phone calls?

Can anyone suggest a dongle or combination of dongles for simultaneous ethernet data, charging, and headset VoIP app phone calls on iPhone SE 3rd Gen (2022) with IOS 18.3? This is a model with one Lightning port and no other ports.


On iPhone 6s this is accomplished by connecting an ethernet + charge adapter to the Lightning port and a 3.5mm headset to the integrated audio jack.


On iPhone SE, when testing the various configurations outlined below, ethernet + charge + playback-only audio in Safari for example are functional yet VoIP phone apps such as OpenPhone never detect the headsets for phone call audio usage. Sound effects from the VoIP apps may output through the headsets and the physical headset controls work for terminating calls but the audio device icon in the app never changes to a headset icon as it normally would. The audio device list for the apps [accessed by up-swiping from the bottom of the iPhone screen and selecting the IOS audio icon for the app] show only “iPhone” and “Speaker” and calls use only the iPhone internal audio hardware instead of the external headsets.


Testing is performed in airplane mode with wifi and bluetooth disabled to force Lightning port usage.




Configurations evaluated:


A) NK-1056 3-in-1 Lightning adapter with 3.5mm audio, charge, and ethernet ports. Shown as “USB Audio Device” in Safari audio playback.


B) Apple A1619 Lightning to USB Adapter >> Uni EHUB02 USB-A + Ethernet 4-in-1 hub >> UGREEN 30757 USB to 3.5mm audio adapter >> 3.5mm audio headsets. Shown as “KT USB Audio” in Safari audio playback.


C) Apple A1619 Lightning to USB Adapter >> Uni EHUB02 USB-A + Ethernet 4-in-1 hub >> Logitech H390 or H570e USB headsets. Shown as “Logitech H570e Stereo” in Safari audio playback.


D) Apple A1619 Lightning to USB Adapter >> Dell 3100 docking station with 3.5mm audio, USB, and ethernet ports. Shown as “Dell 3100 USB” in Safari audio playback.




Additional notes:


-The same Lightning-only testing done with a 6s on IOS 15.8.3 for comparison hits the same playback-only audio barrier so the problem is not specific to one IOS version.


-Same 3.5mm headset tests successfully with VoIP apps when connected only through a Belkin F8J212btWHT “3.5 mm Audio + Charge RockStar” Lightning dongle but this prevents ethernet usage thereby requiring cellular or wifi which fails the wired requirement.


-Power must be supplied to the Apple A1619 Lightning dongle for ethernet to function on the chained USB hub.


iPhone SE (3rd generation)

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 03:23 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 2, 2025 10:18 PM

Search for accessories that have completed MFi certification. Once an accessory has completed MFi certification requirements and is reported to Apple as sold/distributed, it will be searchable in our public database of authorized Lightning, headset, charging, iAP-enabled, and Find My network-enabled accessories.




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6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 2, 2025 10:18 PM in response to hedged

Search for accessories that have completed MFi certification. Once an accessory has completed MFi certification requirements and is reported to Apple as sold/distributed, it will be searchable in our public database of authorized Lightning, headset, charging, iAP-enabled, and Find My network-enabled accessories.




Feb 4, 2025 08:28 PM in response to SravanKrA

Does a full MFI approach exist or is this no-man's land?


Several more ethernet + charge + 3.5mm audio integrated multi-function Lightning dongles from different sources that came up in searches share a common "does not support phone calls" or similarly worded caveat in the descriptions. Given the number brought to market with this shortcoming and seemingly none indicating phone call support, is a technical or intentional limitation in IOS or Lightning involved?

Mar 2, 2025 11:07 AM in response to hedged

More configurations tested with the same outcome:


E) Belcompany Lightning to USB Hub [Apple MFi Certified]

>> UGREEN 45275 USB A to USB C Adapter #1 >> Belkin INC001 USB-C Ethernet + charge adapter

>> UGREEN 45275 USB A to USB C Adapter #2 >> Apple MTJY3AM/A USB-C EarPods. Shown as "EarPods" in Safari audio devices.


F) Belcompany Lightning to USB Hub [Apple MFi Certified]

>> UGREEN 45275 USB A to USB C Adapter #1 >> Belkin INC001 USB-C Ethernet + charge adapter

>> UGREEN 30757 USB A to 3.5mm audio adapter >> 3.5mm audio headsets. Shown as “KT USB Audio” in Safari audio playback.


G) Apple A1619 Lightning to USB Adapter >> UGREEN 45275 USB A to USB C Adapter

>> Apple MTJY3AM/A USB-C EarPods. Shown as “EarPods" in Safari

audio devices. This non-ethernet configuration was tested only to check if using more Apple products would change results.



External power was supplied to the hubs and adapter charge ports during each test.

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iPhone wired ethernet + charging + headset solution for app phone calls?

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