Early iPhone 7 Case Has No Headphone Jack and Stereo Speaker Cutouts

[Rigby]

Temporarily detach the adapter while using in your MBP and re-attach when done? Or keep the adapter plugged into your MBP?

You asked how you can lose the adapter. That's how: You unplug the adapter to use your headphones for a Lync conference on your laptop in the hotel, then you rush out to catch your plane, then you're sitting on your 10-hour flight and discover to your horror that you forgot the stupid adapter in the hotel and can't listen to your music and audio books. And all for what? So you can have "stereo" speakers with a 1-inch separation, or Ive can shave off another 0.1mm?

Many headphone companies are already committed to releasing a Lightning version headphone later this year. Some have already. So yes, it won't take long to see them offered anywhere that sells headphones.

The iPhone's global market share is 15% and shrinking, and that's counting only phones and not laptops and other devices that people use headphones with. Neither will you have anywhere near the selection of headphone models with Lightning, nor will they be available in many stores.

 

[I7guy]

You asked how you can lose the adapter. That's how: You unplug the adapter to use your headphones for a Lync conference on your laptop in the hotel, then you rush out to catch your plane, then you're sitting on your 10-hour flight and discover to your horror that you forgot the stupid adapter in the hotel and can't listen to your music and audio books. And all for what? So you can have "stereo" speakers with a 1-inch separation, or Ive can shave off another 0.1mm?
The iPhone's global market share is 15% and shrinking, and that's counting only phones and not laptops and other devices that people use headphones with. Neither will you have anywhere near the selection of headphone models with Lightning, nor will they be available in many stores.

I use usb headphones with my laptop or bluetooth headphones. The loss of the 3.5mm jack won't bother me personally. You are right about iphones shrinking global market share, but apple is not going to compete with low-end android devices. I don't know how the masses feel about this, but if true, I'm okay with it.

 

[lagwagon]

You asked how you can lose the adapter. That's how: You unplug the adapter to use your headphones for a Lync conference on your laptop in the hotel, then you rush out to catch your plane, then you're sitting on your 10-hour flight and discover to your horror that you forgot the stupid adapter in the hotel and can't listen to your music and audio books. And all for what? So you can have "stereo" speakers with a 1-inch separation, or Ive can shave off another 0.1mm?
The iPhone's global market share is 15% and shrinking, and that's counting only phones and not laptops and other devices that people use headphones with. Neither will you have anywhere near the selection of headphone models with Lightning, nor will they be available in many stores.

So it's a companies fault you're neglectful to keep track of your belongings? If you detach it to use your headphones in a MBP, it would be on the desk in plain view sitting next to your MBP. Or put it away in your laptop bag so that its there when needed?

Removing the jack for thinness is such a massive misconception made by nearly all the "grumps" when it comes to this topic. The jack doesn't need to be removed for thinness. The iPod Touch is 6.1mm and still has a jack. So no, it's not "so Ive can shave 0.1mm". The second "stereo" speaker is also not exactly the reason behind removing it either. Something has to fill the new vacant space inside the phone.

 

[Glideslope]

I thought it was rumored to be only the 7+ dual camera! Now is the 7 also rumored to have it? The less difference from the tow, the better.

IMO, we will will begin to see sharper distinctions between the Standard and + (Pro) iPhones beginning in the 7's cycle. If there will be Dual Lenses I'd say + (Pro) phone only.
This will continue to expand with the OLED + (Pro) phones Fall 2017 larger than 5.5".
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Cirrus Logic speakers -- pretty fancy. Can't get much more audiophile than that.

So looking forward to Apple's presentation exholing how they were able to squeeze two tuna fish cans into the case for the tinest sounding iPhone yet AND now with stereo distortion.

Bumble Bee, or Charlie the Tuna?

 

[Rigby]

So it's a companies fault you're neglectful to keep track of your belongings?

We can't all be perfect like you.

Removing the jack for thinness is such a massive misconception made by nearly all the "grumps" when it comes to this topic. The jack doesn't need to be removed for thinness. The iPod Touch is 6.1mm and still has a jack. So no, it's not "so Ive can shave 0.1mm". The second "stereo" speaker is also not exactly the reason behind removing it either. Something has to fill the new vacant space inside the phone.

Or perhaps it's just so Apple can sell more expensive headphones, overpriced adapters and MFI licenses?

 

[Ghost31]

We can't all be perfect like you.
Or perhaps it's just so Apple can sell more expensive headphones, overpriced adapters and MFI licenses?

Perfection is not losing your adapter. You heard it here folks! Perfection is incredibly easy to attain!

 

[lagwagon]

We can't all be perfect like you.
Or perhaps it's just so Apple can sell more expensive headphones and MFI licenses?

I'm not perfect, but using the excuse of "I lose my things often" or "I would lose the adapter" for your argument is completely bogus. That's 100% on you and not the responsibility of a company.

Or perhaps to remove an ancient, redundant port on a device that every mm counts and can be used for other things? Not everything any company does is for pure evil or to personally attack you, you know.

No other phone manufacturer has the power to make this kind of move like Apple has. The goal is to move away from old technology and into new/future technology. It doesn't matter if old still works. Continuing to use old never pushes the new forward. I don't get why that's so hard to understand. Maybe we should all go back to using yellow composite for video? It's old, and works.

 

[Ghost31]

I'm not perfect, but using the excuse of "I lose my things often" or "I would lose the adapter" for your argument is completely bogus. That's 100% on you and not the responsibility of a company.

Or perhaps to remove an ancient, redundant port on a device that every mm counts and can be used for other things? Not everything any company does is for pure evil or to personally attack you, you know.

No other phone manufacturer has the power to make this kind of move like Apple has. The goal is to move away from old technology and into new/future technology. It doesn't matter if old still works. Continuing to use old never pushes the new forward. I don't get why that's so hard to understand. Maybe we should all go back to using yellow composite for video? It's old, and works.

I...I think I love you. It's like you crawl inside my brain before writing every post, scoop out whatever I would have said and then spit it out onto the keyboard. You can just answer every post I would have replied to from now on

 

[Rigby]

I'm not perfect, but using the excuse of "I lose my things often" or "I would lose the adapter" for your argument is completely bogus. That's 100% on you and not the responsibility of a company.

What's bogus are your rationalizations for this boneheaded move. Phones are made for real people in the real world. Adapters are a hassle and in this case a completely unnecessary complication that nobody needs.

Not everything any company does is for pure evil or to personally attack you, you know.

Are you for real?

 

[bennyprofane]

About a year ago, it occurred to me:

"OMG! One day Apple will remove the headphone jack. That's exactly the kind of sick **** they pull: A mindless ubersimplifying of their (great) products, just for it's own sake and without ever regarding the practicability for the user."

(They do this all the time: abandoning Aperture, reducing USB slots, reducing mouse buttons (they gave up on this one), not including sd slots in iPads, the way they abruptly abandoned Final Cut Pro 7 (although I do love FCPX), a general disregard for the needs of the "Pro" user...)

I didn't think it would come this fast. It's a complete bs argument that this step is needed to make it thinner. The iPod Touch is thinner and has a headphone jack. I want to keep on using my favourite headphone in the world (google "kramer mod") and even if I'll be willing to pay the 69 bucks for the adapter, it's surely going to be clunky in the pocket.

They should make an iPhone Pro with a headphone jack. I love you Apple but sometimes I hate you.

 

[lagwagon]

What's bogus are your rationalizations for this boneheaded move. Phones are made for real people in the real world. Adapters are a hassle and in this case a completely unnecessary complication that nobody needs.
Are you for real?

Funny. Between the two of us I'm the only one who is actually being rational. I'm not instantly crapping on it and at least considering what it could mean for possibilities in 1, 2, 3+ years from now. I'm not the one kicking and screaming, throwing a hissy fit over a jack (or removal of one.)

Yes I'm for real. Not every decision made by every company is pure evil. You know, sometimes decisions are made to better the product in the long term. There will be at times growing pains in the short term (especially a transition like this) but the end result will be better. Of course they aren't going to do something that loses them money. It's a business, that's kinda the whole point of being IN business. But not every decision is fueled by greed and greed alone. Or maybe I was in a rush to get to my flight and forgot my tin foil hat at the hotel room and I'm wrong.

 

[mantan]

So it's a companies fault you're neglectful to keep track of your belongings? If you detach it to use your headphones in a MBP, it would be on the desk in plain view sitting next to your MBP. Or put it away in your laptop bag so that its there when needed?

Removing the jack for thinness is such a massive misconception made by nearly all the "grumps" when it comes to this topic. The jack doesn't need to be removed for thinness. The iPod Touch is 6.1mm and still has a jack. So no, it's not "so Ive can shave 0.1mm". The second "stereo" speaker is also not exactly the reason behind removing it either. Something has to fill the new vacant space inside the phone.

Adapters get lost. It's the real world. Stuff just happens. I think the guy's point is that it's one more thing to have to keep up with for no added value/functionality. I get where he's coming from. I travel a lot of or work as well. I'll use my earbuds when I'm catching a meeting on Skype or taking a SFB call on the road. An adapter is an extra piece of equipment I'd have to keep up with.

It's not being a 'grump' it's not understanding the point of removing something that provides functionality with the earbuds/headphones I already own and forcing customers to either use an adapter, use proprietary headphones or buy a totally different headset.

I'd rather Apple give people a choice or options and make the broader group of customers happy than just remove stuff for no good reason. Well other than the 'benefit' of stereo speakers an inch apart.

It's like all the people in the MacBook subforum trying to convince themselves that having one USB port and a dongle isn't that big of deal...it's just a minor inconvenience at times...but worth it for the future.

It's OK to not love everything that Apple does....it really is....

 

[lagwagon]

It's OK to not love everything that Apple does....it really is....

I don't love everything Apple does. I'm just not going to cry over something pretty trivial. I don't let an initial emotion reaction rule my thoughts before deciding I don't like something (especially in this circumstance where no one knows the actual reasons for doing it.) I don't jump to negative conclusions for no reason. I think about what it could mean moving forward, hear what they say about it at the announcement and then make an informed decision.

You don't see me crying in the Apple TV forums about the removal of the Optical out on the ATV4. Something removed that requires me to update either my whole A/V receiver or get an adapter to do hdmi in, to Optical out to my receiver and hdmi out to the tv. My admittedly old receiver has ancient hdmi 1.2. It doesn't allow audio audio be caught at the receiver or returned back from the tv to play the audio through the receiver via hdmi. I'm not mad about it and understand receivers and hdmi have been much improved since hdmi 1.2 and the ATV4 doesn't need to offer Optical out anymore because of it. I'll be updating my receiver anyways, because it's long overdue and was waiting on proper 4K+HDR compatible ones to be available. Apple removing the Optical out on ATV4 isn't the reason why though, it's because technology moves forward.

Or maybe I should get on the hate train and blame Apple for forcing me to get a new receiver by omitting the Optical out?

 

[mantan]

I don't love everything Apple does. I'm just not going to cry over something pretty trivial. I don't let an initial emotion reaction rule my thoughts before deciding I don't like something (especially in this circumstance where no one knows the actual reasons for doing it.) I don't jump to negative conclusions for no reason. I think about what it could mean moving forward, hear what they say about it at the announcement and then make an informed decision.

You don't see me crying in the Apple TV forums about the removal of the Optical out on the ATV4. Something removed that requires me to update either my whole A/V receiver or get an adapter to do hdmi in, to Optical out to my receiver and hdmi out to the tv. My admittedly old receiver has ancient hdmi 1.2. It doesn't allow audio audio be caught at the receiver or returned back from the tv to play the audio through the receiver via hdmi. I'm not mad about it and understand receivers and hdmi have been much improved since hdmi 1.2 and the ATV4 doesn't need to offer Optical out anymore because of it. I'll be updating my receiver anyways, because it's long overdue and was waiting on proper 4K+HDR compatible ones to be available. Apple removing the Optical out on ATV4 isn't the reason why though, it's because technology moves forward.

Or maybe I should get on the hate train and blame Apple for forcing me to get a new receiver by omitting the Optical out?

I think you have some good thoughts. Unfortunately you tend to drizzle them with condescending comments (cry over something trivial, emotional reaction, crying etc 'hate train') rather than actually try to understand and empathize with another's point of view.

I do agree until something is announced, we are all speculating. But it's called MacRumors, not MacFacts....so that's what we end up doing around here.

Hopefully the facts turn out to be better/different than the rumors.

 

[DevNull0]

Here here. Stereo speakers so close together are as good as mono. And the list of analogue audio jack qualities are infinite. This isn't like floppy discs or firewire that come and go. Show me a truly latency free, adapter free and more elegant answer to this move and I'll stand corrected.

Sorry, I thought my second sentence made the sarcasm clear. It's a horrible idea and if they're dumb enough to do it, I hope it crashes their iPhone sales enough to get Timmy fired.

 

[lagwagon]

I think you have some good thoughts. Unfortunately you tend to drizzle them with condescending comments (cry over something trivial, emotional reaction, crying etc 'hate train') rather than actually try to understand and empathize with another's point of view.

I do agree until something is announced, we are all speculating. But it's called MacRumors, not MacFacts....so that's what we end up doing around here.

Hopefully the facts turn out to be better/different than the rumors.

Look at the post below yours just now. I believe "hate train" is quite accurate even if it is a little condescending.

"Sorry, I thought my second sentence made the sarcasm clear. It's a horrible idea and if they're dumb enough to do it, I hope it crashes their iPhone sales enough to get Timmy fired."

Hoping someone gets fired because their immediate reaction is to hate an idea before getting informed about it? That's pretty immature and pretty damn mean spirited.

 

[DevNull0]

I think you have some good thoughts. Unfortunately you tend to drizzle them with condescending comments (cry over something trivial, emotional reaction, crying etc 'hate train') rather than actually try to understand and empathize with another's point of view.

Sadly, I think that's the very definition of millennial. Their sense of entitlement is so huge, they are actually offended by a different opinion.

 

[lordofthereef]

My biggest issue in Apple getting rid of something that is industry standard is replacing it with something that is not. AFAIK the lightning port cannot be licensed out to other products (ie and Android manufacturer can't decide, "hey, we really like lightning, let's do that"). So, moving forward, we may see other companies getting rid of the 3.5mm jack because, as was said, Apple is the company to get something like this done [first], and I agree. So for my Android phone I might need a USB c adapter and for my iOS I will need a lightning adapter. This may even end up being true for computers? Who knows.

I am staying open minded and if the 3.5mm port is canned, I am interested in seeing or hearing what benefits the next device(s) gain from them. While I wasn't completely against the lightning port change from 30-pin, I had a feeling that I wouldn't really be benefiting from any f the added capabilities of Apple's new standard (aside from device size I suppose) and I can't say I was wrong. I don;t suspect that I will have gained anything from lightning, personally, until I buy a car with CarPlay capabilities, and barring some unforseen circumstance, that's at least half a decade away. That's not to say that lighting was a bad move, or that I think it was a bad move. But I think it's perfectly normal for a consumer to try and think of what they are losing versus what they are gaining. Since we don't really know what we are gaining (for sure) yet, all I can really think of is, at the very least, having to pack an adapter when I go to the gym. And will this adapter require me to invest more money into the iOS ecosystem while (potentially) not providing me with personal gain as did the lighting port switch? Only time will tell, of course.
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Have you used bluetooth headphones? Or bluetooth speakers or stereo airplay?

I certainly have, and for gym use, they were all inferior to my extremely inexpensive buds that I bought for $40 four years ago and have run through the wash three times and even the dryer once. I do not expect that out of any headphones. But I point that out because, in my case, I will have to spend more money on a product I (currently) like less (of course new products are always hitting the market) and that will almost certainly stand up to far less abuse.

I even started a thread here on MR for people to recommend me some buds. I tried a few, the most memorable being the jaybirds, but they just didn't stay in my ears through heavy sweating in the gym. My wired yurbuds virtually never fall out, but if/when they do, they are also connected to something and don't go flying towards the treadmill, or under hundreds of pounds of weight, etc.

The most intriguing new product I have seen were individual buds that are apparently even good enough for swimming with. I am definitely looking forward to trying those. Even though they only have an estimated three hour battery life, they'd work for me. The $300 price tag is going to mean that they will have to be damn near flawless though, for me to keep them. One of those dropping out is even worse than what's currently on the market.

All that said, I can respect those that are ready and willing to lose the port. That's perfectly fine. Your needs and wants are obviously different than mine, and there is nothing wrong with that. As mentioned above, maybe we will gain something that I simply on't see yet that will make the trade-off more than bearable.

 

[lagwagon]

My biggest issue in Apple getting rid of something that is industry standard is replacing it with something that is not. AFAIK the lightning port cannot be licensed out to other products (ie and Android manufacturer can't decide, "hey, we really like lightning, let's do that"). So, moving forward, we may see other companies getting rid of the 3.5mm jack because, as was said, Apple is the company to get something like this done [first], and I agree. So for my Android phone I might need a USB c adapter and for my iOS I will need a lightning adapter. This may even end up being true for computers? Who knows.

It'll be fragmented in the beginning for sure. Not denying that. Everything typically is when change is made to something major. It will at least get the industry thinking towards finally making the move from a super old technology into digital/wireless. And push innovation in that area.

When video went through the analog to digital transition it was S-Video (which was around for a while) and DVI+Optical and eventually settled on HDMI as a standard as things improved and got the industry thinking of a better solution. Blending both video and audio into one cable. Simple, easy, insanely higher quality is what we got in the end.

The way I see it, is it's almost no different. It's now 3.5mm analog jacks turn to say goodbye and hello to a digital solution. One port to do it all (charge, data, video, audio) It's been there for awhile, I think it's time to have it take over. I wouldn't doubt if eventually a common standard port will happen just like HDMI became standard.

I don't know of Lightning can be licensed to be put into an Android. Probably not at the moment. It's possible maybe Apple will let the reigns go on the rights to it in order to maybe let it become a standard. Or Apple may leave it behind in a year or two and go USB-C. Or another port not invented yet will emerge from having the industry focus on the move into digital.

 

[Max(IT)]

It would be 4 years if Apple released a 7s next year with the same design. If Apple decided to skip the s-cycle next year and release a redesigned iPhone 8 in June 2017 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the original iPhone and have the same number as the Galaxy S8, it would be 3 years of the same design.

Even if it is the case, and I don't think so, it would be 3 years (2014-2017) from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 7S...
But I'm quite sure Apple is going to change design starting with the iPhone 7.

 

[8692574]

You asked how you can lose the adapter. That's how: You unplug the adapter to use your headphones for a Lync conference on your laptop in the hotel, then you rush out to catch your plane, then you're sitting on your 10-hour flight and discover to your horror that you forgot the stupid adapter in the hotel.

The same way you can forget the headphones or the phone itself in the hotel, We should all sue Apple because we can forget our phones in an hotel.....or because you lost the plane....

 

[Max(IT)]

My biggest issue in Apple getting rid of something that is industry standard is replacing it with something that is not. AFAIK the lightning port cannot be licensed out to other products (ie and Android manufacturer can't decide, "hey, we really like lightning, let's do that"). So, moving forward, we may see other companies getting rid of the 3.5mm jack because, as was said, Apple is the company to get something like this done [first], and I agree. So for my Android phone I might need a USB c adapter and for my iOS I will need a lightning adapter. This may even end up being true for computers? Who knows.

I am staying open minded and if the 3.5mm port is canned, I am interested in seeing or hearing what benefits the next device(s) gain from them. While I wasn't completely against the lightning port change from 30-pin, I had a feeling that I wouldn't really be benefiting from any f the added capabilities of Apple's new standard (aside from device size I suppose) and I can't say I was wrong. I don;t suspect that I will have gained anything from lightning, personally, until I buy a car with CarPlay capabilities, and barring some unforseen circumstance, that's at least half a decade away. That's not to say that lighting was a bad move, or that I think it was a bad move. But I think it's perfectly normal for a consumer to try and think of what they are losing versus what they are gaining. Since we don't really know what we are gaining (for sure) yet, all I can really think of is, at the very least, having to pack an adapter when I go to the gym. And will this adapter require me to invest more money into the iOS ecosystem while (potentially) not providing me with personal gain as did the lighting port switch? Only time will tell, of course.
[doublepost=1457587335][/doublepost]
I certainly have, and for gym use, they were all inferior to my extremely inexpensive buds that I bought for $40 four years ago and have run through the wash three times and even the dryer once. I do not expect that out of any headphones. But I point that out because, in my case, I will have to spend more money on a product I (currently) like less (of course new products are always hitting the market) and that will almost certainly stand up to far less abuse.

I even started a thread here on MR for people to recommend me some buds. I tried a few, the most memorable being the jaybirds, but they just didn't stay in my ears through heavy sweating in the gym. My wired yurbuds virtually never fall out, but if/when they do, they are also connected to something and don't go flying towards the treadmill, or under hundreds of pounds of weight, etc.

The most intriguing new product I have seen were individual buds that are apparently even good enough for swimming with. I am definitely looking forward to trying those. Even though they only have an estimated three hour battery life, they'd work for me. The $300 price tag is going to mean that they will have to be damn near flawless though, for me to keep them. One of those dropping out is even worse than what's currently on the market.

All that said, I can respect those that are ready and willing to lose the port. That's perfectly fine. Your needs and wants are obviously different than mine, and there is nothing wrong with that. As mentioned above, maybe we will gain something that I simply on't see yet that will make the trade-off more than bearable.

I'm in a position where I'm just waiting to see what Apple will do with the wired audio output...
I agree on your point: if they will remove the 3.5mm port, what benefit the user will have? Are they going to provide an adapter in every package? Let's see...

 

[lordofthereef]

It'll be fragmented in the beginning for sure. Not denying that. Everything typically is when change is made to something major. It will at least get the industry thinking towards finally making the move from a super old technology into digital/wireless. And push innovation in that area.

When video went through the analog to digital transition it was S-Video (which was around for a while) and DVI+Optical and eventually settled on HDMI as a standard as things improved and got the industry thinking of a better solution. Blending both video and audio into one cable. Simple, easy, insanely higher quality is what we got in the end.

The way I see it, is it's almost no different. It's now 3.5mm analog jacks turn to say goodbye and hello to a digital solution. One port to do it all (charge, data, video, audio) It's been there for awhile, I think it's time to have it take over. I wouldn't doubt if eventually a common standard port will happen just like HDMI became standard.

I don't know of Lightning can be licensed to be put into an Android. Probably not at the moment. It's possible maybe Apple will let the reigns go on the rights to it in order to maybe let it become a standard. Or Apple may leave it behind in a year or two and go USB-C. Or another port not invented yet will emerge from having the industry focus on the move into digital.

I agree with you on many front, except that it's probably more typical in terms of home video to want video and audio in one cable (for the average user, who isn't fiddling with their cables more than once during setup and then again if something goes wrong down the line ). I'm not sure that's the case with portable electronics. I'll mention again, very briefly, that he I does happen to be a standard. What apple is (rumored to be) doing is replacing a standard in favor of something proprietary (not a first in the industry, but it also gives me reason to feel this isn't quite so analogous to the hdmi "One Plug fits all" conversion).

Still I will be blunt. I don't really care about what makes sense for Apple or even other users. Unless something happens that I can't yet be unaware of, I've lost more than I've gained with this switch. It happens that I'm happier with the 6s plus than I think I'v ever been with an iPhone, so as I've said many times now, it's going to take a lot for me to upgrade this cycle anyway.

Not trying to sound argumentative. Just adding to the discourse and saying how I feel. I'm interested in seeing the justification for getting rid of the port regardless of whether I deem it relevant for my needs or not. As long as it's not for the sake of change, I can't be mad.

 

[lagwagon]

I'm in a position where I'm just waiting to see what Apple will do with the wired audio output...
I agree on your point: if they will remove the 3.5mm port, what benefit the user will have? Are they going to provide an adapter in every package? Let's see...

I have a feeling Apple will just deem supplying Lightning EarPods as adequate enough and sell the adapter. Which I agree would be wrong. They should include one to help mitigate making such a big move.

They may also not give the "real" reason for its demise right away if their plans include something in 2017 or later to "complete" the process of why it was removed as to not show their hand of future plans.

 

[hachre]

Yep, stereo speakers 20mm apart. Great.

Yeah seems pointless for that reason alone. I wonder how I'll attach my 500$ headphones to this. Do I always have to carry a ****ing dongle in my pocket now?