Aussies slugged with fee for iPhone 5 adapter

Hip-pocket hit to use current accessories.

Apple's new adapter to connect older iPhone accessories to the iPhone 5 will not come bundled with the new smartphone as expected, but at a price.

Australian buyers will be forced to hand over $35 to be able to use any existing iPhone accessories with their new iPhone 5.

Apple debuted a new 8-pin “Lightning” port on its iPhone 5. The adaptor will allow the new iPhone to connect with older accessories compatible with the previous 30-pin port, used in Apple iPods and iPhones since 2003. 

For an adapter with a 0.2m cord, the cost is $45. 

However, Apple in its keynote today said it was “still working on” the adapters.

According to Apple’s Australian website, the adaptors won’t arrive locally until October - meaning iPhone 5 customers who receive their new smartphone from the first day of shipping on September 21 won’t be able to use their already-purchased accessories until October.

Apple said the new adaptor is more durable and can be inserted with either side facing up. It said it was forced to ditch the previous 30-pin port on the new iPhone as it was too heavy and bulky for its ever-shrinking products.

The company will also launch a USB cable adaptor to connect the iPhone 5 to a personal computer. It will retail for $25.

The iPhone 5 was launched this morning at an event in New York. Click through for a full guide of all the specifications.