Am I the only one happy that they will remove the headphone jack in iPhone 7? (possibly, just rumor)

[Shamgar]

My phone gets plugged into different headphones and media devices using the standard 3.5 mm connection. Needing an adapter/DAC removes the portability advantage of just using my iphone. A lightning only connection dramatically reduces an iPhone's utility for me, but without any benefit. It's not like the Lightning adds significant audio quality.

 

[CE3]

I honestly don't care that much if the jack is there or not on the iPhone as long as it comes with compatible ear buds (which it would). But I don't care because I don't use headphones that much with the iPhone. As far as my other Apple devices are concerned, though, I think there definitely needs to be continued 3.5mm jack support on the iPad and MBP. iPads and MacBooks are used by countless musicians, producers, sound engineers, etc. and 3.5 is still very much the standard.

 

[Rufuss Sewell]

I can't believe a single person would be ok with losing the ability to:

1. Use whatever headphones you like.

2. Listen to your music in other people's cars.

3. Play your phone's audio in any given situation: At a club, at a party, a friend's house.

4. Have the freedom to choose any stereo system.

You're really ok with trying to remember and keep an adapter on you at all times to do these things?

The adapter will have to have a DAC so it'll be expensive. And you will probably lose it. Or it will break often.

Keep in mind that we already have a lightning cable output if you want to bypass the DAC.

Losing the HP jack only takes away a massive amount of functionality. It adds nothing.

 

[CE3]

It adds nothing.

Yeah, in terms of sound quality, it's not like there's anything inferior to analog (3.5 / 1/4) headphones. In fact, some of the best headphones you can find on the market are analog. Now if this rumor is true and there's some technical reason behind the decision to ditch the 3.5 jack that makes sense - fine. But if they're trying to go all proprietary / $40 adapter just for the sake of it and plan to do this with other products, they're going to have a ton of ticked off customers to deal with.

 

[Rufuss Sewell]

Yeah, in terms of sound quality, it's not like there's anything inferior to analog (3.5 / 1/4) headphones. In fact, some of the best headphones you can find on the market are analog. Now if this rumor is true and there's some technical reason behind the decision to ditch the 3.5 jack that makes sense - fine. But if they're trying to go all proprietary / $40 adapter just for the sake of it and plan to do this with other products, they're going to have a ton of ticked off customers to deal with.

Headphones are always analog. The iPhone is always digital. Somewhere inbetween there is a DAC (digital to analog converter). Currently there's one in the iPhone or you can choose to use an external DAC plugged into the lightning port.

If they remove the DAC and 3.5mm hp jack the customer loses vast functionality and connectivity and gains nothing.

 

[OllyW]

Remove internal DAC will allow Apple to design a cleaner digital output with less jitter. It will also get new iPhone user interested on external DAC, hence more company develop external DAC because market just become bigger.

It will still need an internal DAC even if the the 3.5mm jack is removed.

 

[Nhwhazup]

If they lose the jack, I may need to reconsider my choice in phones. I have tried many earbuds including top end in both bluetooth and wired and I've found the quality of sound not even close. The wired in ear monitors win hands down every time. If I am unable to use them or have to get an adapter that's a problem for me.

 

[Tycho24]

I have the Beat Studio Wireless headphones and I only have to charge them ever week or so. The sound is outstanding...

A simple "to me" at the end of this sentence would change it to fact from fiction...
[doublepost=1452347683][/doublepost]

Needing an adapter/DAC removes the portability advantage of just using my iphone. A lightning only connection dramatically reduces an iPhone's utility for me, but without any benefit. It's not like the Lightning adds significant audio quality.

I'm gonna go ahead & call bs!
I have a VERY nice pair of Grados. They have the fat 1/4" plug..... sooooooo, an adapter permanently lives plugged into them.
It neither "removes the portability advantage", nor "dramatically reduces the utility" of my iPhone. Lol, you princesses are too much!!!!!
I feel like you wouldn't even notice it was there. I know I don't sit there fondling my headphone jack while listening to music.
I feel like reasonable comments like "yeah, but there's really no good reason to remove the audio jack", or "it's not even being replaced with anything" lose their teeth when coupled with absurd exaggerated complaining.

 

[melman101]

I have no problem carrying around adapters or stuff. I have an adapter for a swipe card reader. I have an adapter for SD cards. I have an adapter for Ethernet for my MacBook. I can just leave the adapter on the headphones as the above poster said.

And I'm sure they have a reason for doing this (if they are even doing it) and it will all be explained at the iPhone event.

 

[CE3]

A simple "to me" at the end of this sentence would change it to fact from fiction...
[doublepost=1452347683][/doublepost]

I'm gonna go ahead & call bs!
I have a VERY nice pair of Grados. They have the fat 1/4" plug..... sooooooo, an adapter permanently lives plugged into them.
It neither "removes the portability advantage", nor "dramatically reduces the utility" of my iPhone. Lol, you princesses are too much!!!!!
I feel like you wouldn't even notice it was there. I know I don't sit there fondling my headphone jack while listening to music.
I feel like reasonable comments like "yeah, but there's really no good reason to remove the audio jack", or "it's not even being replaced with anything" lose their teeth when coupled with absurd exaggerated complaining.

I don't find the quote you responded to to be "absurd exaggerated complaining". Removing the headphone jack would reduce utility for some. Yes, they'll include a pair of ear buds, but people already have 3.5mm headphones they want to use. I have a lightning microphone from Shure. How would I be able to monitor my input while using the mic? That's two different adapters right there, or one multi-adapter, and none of which I want hanging off my iPhone. Wireless charging would provide a solution for keeping the port open while charging, but it's doubtful a wireless charger would ship with the phone, so that would be another thing to buy. If any of this turns out to be true, the real high maintenance "princess" would be the iPhone 7

 

[yaboyac29]

I'm thankful that all the people against this decision don't work for Apple. It's people like YOU that stop technology from moving forward.

Wah ****in wah, cry me a damn river because you'll have to change your habits in favour of new technology.

I don't own Bluetooth headphones but I have been looking into it lately mainly because the cable gets tangled up at the gym.. I can't wait. I hope there's some good wireless earphones that Apple includes with the iPhone 7.

 

[jasie02]

It will still need an internal DAC even if the the 3.5mm jack is removed.

You are right, forgot about internal speakers.

 

[Arran]

And I'm sure they have a reason for doing this...

Of course they do. But is it a reason that benefits the consumer?

Personally, I prefer open interfaces over closed ones. Unless there's some clear benefit, to the consumer, of going closed.

 

[jasie02]

This has been discussed extensively this week but I still haven't gotten a straight answer to the question, what is the benefit?

So I'm either going to have to plug my headphones into the lightning port and therefore not be able to charge/sync while using them, or have headphones that require charging? I'll admit, neither of these things is the worst thing in the world, but they are added inconveniences. So someone please tell me what I'll be gaining int return. Every time I ask the only response I get is that headphone jacks are old technology and this is new.

It was never only about benefit to consumer.
Look back to all Apple design criteria for iPhone, and they religionlisly follow it until they can't any more, 1st thing Apple change on every new physical design of iphone is thinner. What it means is they are going to find a way to be thinner, if possible, and it is possible by remove 3.5mm port. Then follow by create more marketing oppotunity for Apple. Lightning cable was one, now it is BT headset. Next is cost saving. Remove 3.5mm jack will be part of it.

Every company tell consumer they are there for them. What they mean is they are there for most of them, not all of them. If Apple continue make case thicker or even remain same, they will lose a large portion of customer who has very little technology knowledge expect case to be thinner, because thinner has become an expectation to new iPhone design. For techy like most of us understand sacrifice between going thin vs missing feature, but a lot of people are buying for the looks and based on marketing from Apple. It is easier to sale a new iPhone if it come with thinner case again, new lightning digital audio technology to go along with new release beat audio headset lines, and big stereo sound speakers (possible location for 2nd speaker). It might also has something to do with water proofing, which also could come.

Every non-profile company are out there to make $$$ 1st, pleasing customer 2nd, until they lose market share, then they refocus. So until lots of people stop buying iPhone world wide, which I don't see in short future, Apple has the ball, not us.

 

[phrehdd]

1) Dropping floppy disc drives - is this why many people for a few years bought external? Seems Apple failed to tell its base, at the time, they were dropping floppies which caused some grief. I remember it well. Yes, CDs and external items like Zipdrives continued on after the floppy.

2) Dropping CD/DVD drives - lots of people still want these drives and also those that handle Blue Ray. This was less about moving forward unless moving forward means creating more reason for the masses to connect and use iTunes buy/rentals. It was strictly to advance Apple's profits and nothing to do with advancement of technology. I call total B.S. here. Let's be clear, Apple never support properly Blue Ray from the get go ...you know "a bag of hurt" that somehow both Microsoft and Linux seem to have no ill effects in the offering.

3) Apple never really did, beyond AAC a damn thing about audio quality. In fact, on two fronts it failed by choice while telling us what great audio we get. OSX (nor IOS) will play the higher end commercially available audio such as HD audio from Blue Ray movies and they made sure that their IOS devices cannot play anything beyond CD Redbook quality and forced owners of their products to remain with very limited file formats they can play without the addition of 3rd party software or hardware.

4) Mini plug/3.5 is universal. It can do quite well for audio and Apple never exploited the capability. In fact, Apple itself doesn't offer anything for rent or purchase that is high end in audio quality. In short, Apple never exploited the capability. What Apple is doing is side stepping and creating a new market with Apple written all over it. While there are advantages to other forms of connectivity there is no guarantee Apple will change its own history and fully exploit the change of port duty. As for wireless, there sure seems room for improvement. - A topic for another discussion.

People should enjoy their Apple purchases with or without the forced changes. Some of us will and some of us wont. The main point is Apple is not about making profit while providing the very best use of hardware and software but about control of our dollars. Apple is the new Microsoft in telling us what we will want and like and just enough lemmings buy into it. It is of Ford mentality - You can have any colour you want as long as it is black.

 

[Newtons Apple]

A simple "to me" at the end of this sentence would change it to fact from fiction...
[doublepost=1452347683][/doublepost]

I'm gonna go ahead & call bs!
I have a VERY nice pair of Grados. They have the fat 1/4" plug..... sooooooo, an adapter permanently lives plugged into them.
It neither "removes the portability advantage", nor "dramatically reduces the utility" of my iPhone. Lol, you princesses are too much!!!!!
I feel like you wouldn't even notice it was there. I know I don't sit there fondling my headphone jack while listening to music.
I feel like reasonable comments like "yeah, but there's really no good reason to remove the audio jack", or "it's not even being replaced with anything" lose their teeth when coupled with absurd exaggerated complaining.

I stand by my words. We can't all be so discriminating like you

 

[joeblow7777]

It was never only about benefit to consumer.
Look back to all Apple design criteria for iPhone, and they religionlisly follow it until they can't any more, 1st thing Apple change on every new physical design of iphone is thinner. What it means is they are going to find a way to be thinner, if possible, and it is possible by remove 3.5mm port. Then follow by create more marketing oppotunity for Apple. Lightning cable was one, now it is BT headset. Next is cost saving. Remove 3.5mm jack will be part of it.

Every company tell consumer they are there for them. What they mean is they are there for most of them, not all of them. If Apple continue make case thicker or even remain same, they will lose a large portion of customer who has very little technology knowledge expect case to be thinner, because thinner has become an expectation to new iPhone design.

But I don't think that anyone, tech savvy or not, is going to criticize the iPhone 7 for not being thinner. It's getting to the point where people are starting to say they are in fact too thin!

 

[Newtons Apple]

It's a hassle over headphones that don't need charging

For me the hassle is worth it. I can get on the big diesel lawn mower and the Studio Wireless block out all the noise and listen to any music I want to like I am in a concert hall and all for once a week charging for an hour. Makes mowing over two acres something to look forward too. Quite relaxing.

If you consider plugging in to charge once a week a big hassle, you must have someone help you daily to plug in your phone.

 

[melman101]

More importantly are the masses really going to switch away from the iPhone because of this? And what if the trade off was waterproofing? I'll take that any day over the headphone jack.

 

[maxsix]

I *DO NOT* want yet another device to charge.

Plain and simple.

You're not alone.

Yet Apple has its worshippers that live to buy the next thing Apple has to sell them. They live to write the words "just take my money". That's the billion dollar legacy of Steve Jobs, he created and carefully fostered a cult like following.

Personally I'm taking this golden opportunity to pass and not give Apple my money. I have no interest in a thinner iPhone that requires wireless headphones, I don't care what else it features.

 

[jasie02]

But I don't think that anyone, tech savvy or not, is going to criticize the iPhone 7 for not being thinner. It's getting to the point where people are starting to say they are in fact too thin!

As I say, Apple, and all profit company, care about $$$$ 1st, techy customer complain 2nd.
It is not about what they did not do people will have +/- reaction, it is about they HAVE the ball, so they want to carve their own way of how next iPhone will be in THEIR own creation, not combination of what customer want.

I could tell you, for a lot of younger and a lot of older iPhone customer, and lot of non-techy, they have no problem "lead" by Apple to guide them toward next Apple product. Either they don't have knowledge, or they trust Apple, for good or bad, to create something unexpected but "good for them". They are happy to be lead by Apple, specially with something new "they could see or hear", thinner is new they could see or hear, digital audio listening is new they could see or hear, dual speakers is new they could see or hear.

Most shopper are still guide by eyes and ears, brain follow next.

 

[AZhappyjack]

More importantly are the masses really going to switch away from the iPhone because of this? And what if the trade off was waterproofing? I'll take that any day over the headphone jack.

I am extremely doubtful that "the masses are really going to switch away from the iPhone because of this". Sure, some will... but many will not. Apple will sell multiple millions of the new iPhones next fall, just like they do every year...

 

[jasie02]

I am extremely doubtful that "the masses are really going to switch away from the iPhone because of this". Sure, some will... but many will not. Apple will sell multiple millions of the new iPhones next fall, just like they do every year...

+1, what is out their better than iPhone, HW, SW, and Apps?

When the time come for new phone, one could only buy new phone existed on the market, can't buy phone does not exist yet.

 

[zhenya]

Actually you could have better experience if Apple open up lightning port digital audio certification, so we could see lightning input D/A headphone amp or D/A convertor for home audio, and of course lightning port input digital headphone, with D/A converter right next to each headphone speaker for minimum power requirement and minimum noise in D/A conversion circuitry.
With elimination of D/A convertor inside iPhone, Apple could create a cleaner digital audio output with less power use from battery.

Yeah, no. First, the lightning port is already open. Other than a limited subset of us geeks, nobody is interested in an external DAC. Apple can't get rid of the DAC in the phone unless they also plan on removing all the speakers. Modern, well implemented DAC's are already so low in noise and jitter that nobody who is listening on a phone is going to notice any change in that regard.

Finally, do you really think that moving the headphone and amplifier to an adapter or set of headphones that generally cost less than $50, made by who knows who out of China, is going to sound better than the DAC and amplifier Apple puts inside the phone which is consistently very good? Really??

 

[jasie02]

Finally, do you really think that moving the headphone and amplifier to an adapter or set of headphones that generally cost less than $50, made by who knows who out of China, is going to sound better than the DAC and amplifier Apple puts inside the phone which is consistently very good? Really??

Every $$$ count.
I been in business of evaluating HW design and cost for years after years after years. Even with large margin % of product, every penny saving still count.
1 penny with 10million qty sell still is $100,000 dollar saving.
Added: Apple sell 12million 6s/6s+ in 1st "weekend", let along saving for whole year. Every penny saving count.