Here's my sole decider re the iPhone 7

[LovingTeddy]

Not to sound insensitive. But soon you won't be able to buy any phone then. 3.5mm headphone jacks are outdated technology. I give it no more than 5 years until all 3.5mm jacks are removed from devices. There are so many better ways to listen to movies and audio compared to 3.5mm. Even USB headphones provide better sound quality. There are two reasons why I see Apple is doing away with it. 1)Waterproofing. 2) For a better audio experience.

You don't get better Audio experience and you can get lighting headphone now, without remove 3.5mm.

I doubt DAC on earbud will be any better than one comes with iPhone.

And you don't need remove 3.5mm to get waterproof. My sub 200 dollar Moto G is water proof and it has 3.5mm

 

[Jimmy James]

You're telling me that every single time you are using headphones, it is also charging? I get 10+ hours of usage on my iPhone 6s every single day. I have never once needed to charge while using headphones. As I said, over a decade of 'music' devices and never charged while using headphones. Not once.

I don't know if I'm the rule and your the exception or your the rule and I'm the exception. Considering Apple has probably done years of R&D on this issue, I'm assuming I'm the rule.

No, I'm not saying that. The number of times I need to to do both simultaneously is infrequent.

I gave a specific use case, which happens to be one my favourite activities, where I do need to charge while plugged in the majority of the time while driving on a multi day trip.

 

[Mlrollin91]

No, I'm not saying that. The number of times I need to to do both simultaneously is infrequent.

I gave a specific use case, which happens to be one my favourite activities, where I do need to charge while plugged in the majority of the time while driving on a multi day trip.

Ah okay. I misunderstood you then. My apologizes.

 

[Michael Scrip]

For me... I wouldn't be bothered by it. Right now I use Bluetooth in the car and the included Apple EarPods when I need headphones.

But... if I had to make a choice... I'd rather deal with headphone issues than switch platforms completely.

You can add a dongle to make your traditional headphones work with a Lightning Port... but there's no dongle to simulate the iOS ecosystem on an Android phone!

 

[LovingTeddy]

What?? You asked me if Audio Out and Power In was even possible. I replied yes and posted this link, which proves it is possible. The adapter for 3.5mm/Lightning has yet to be made. But I answered your question by posting the above.
[doublepost=1472690007][/doublepost]

Did I say removing 3.5mm was required for waterproof? No. I said its probably a reasoning Apple is using. Now they only have to waterproof one port instead of two. Probably why iOS 10 includes a lightning water sensor popup.

Yes, you do get better audio experience with Lightning over 3.5mm. Thats a fact. 3.5mm jack is analog, Lightning is digital. Digital will always be higher quality.

Not scientific, but it proves my point: https://www.macrumors.com/2016/05/09/iphone-7-lightning-headphones-hands-on/

Dude. You ear does not compatible with digital music. All digital music will converted from digital to analog at some point. You will still need Digital to Analog converter in your iPhone, because your iPhone's speaker will still send analog signal to your ear.

I highly doubt any earbud will offer better audio quality, given you just cannot fit good DAC on earbud.

And if you want lightning headphone, you can still do so.

You don't need remove 3.5mm for better audio experience. You can already do so. Removing 3.5mm does not offer anything significant better experience, it is more annoyances.
[doublepost=1472691435][/doublepost]

For me... I wouldn't be bothered by it. Right now I use Bluetooth in the car and the included Apple EarPods when I need headphones.

But... if I had to make a choice... I'd rather deal with headphone issues than switch platforms completely.

You can add a dongle to make your traditional headphones work with a Lightning Port... but there's no dongle to simulate the iOS ecosystem on an Android phone!

Removing 3.5mm is DOA for me. Switching platform is none issue for me, since I am already switching between iOS and Android.


I don't use Apple services, I use Google services for most part. Switch platform is easily as chaging cloth.

 

[Armen]

I am willing to bet with you. Headphone jack will be there for the long run. There will always be smartphone with headphone jack.

People thought there will not be flip phone anymore. Guess what, there are still many flip phone. People thought there will no CD/DVD anymore, guess what, lots of PC still come with optical drive. People thought there will no tape player anymore, guess what, there are still tape player.

I can guarantee that, if I am looking for it, there will be somethings available. And I doubt 3.5 headphone will be history anytime soon.

Sure, you can find a smartphone with a headphone jack but it won't be made by Apple or possibly Samsung in a few years.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Removing 3.5mm is DOA for me. Switching platform is none issue for me, since I am already switching between iOS and Android.

I don't use Apple services, I use Google services for most part. Switch platform is easily as chaging cloth.

That's why I included the words "For me" in my comment.

Cheers.

 

[GigabitEthernet]

It is an Apple thing to do but I still feel even by their standards, that it is pretty low. The 3.5mm jack is used by basically everyone. It's not dying out, there's nothing else that is wide-reaching enough to warrant its replacement.

 

[Rian Gray]

I actually want to hear what Apple has to say on this before deciding what my new phone will be. It's like MBA without ODD, everyone called it bull for not having it, but Apple was right to remove it. There were few who really needed it, and now many laptops available on market don't have them. Heck, even desktops don't have them anymore.

Frankly from where I'm standing, I only use wired headphones on flight (on-flight entertainment thing). Other than that, even Bose has noise-canceling wireless headset. I doubt not having 3.5 will affect me, except for few cases where I share speakers while barbecuing with friends.

 

[LovingTeddy]

Sure, you can find a smartphone with a headphone jack but it won't be made by Apple or possibly Samsung in a few years.

I don't buy Samsung anyway. If Apple won't offer 3.5mm for now on, then I will switch. Simple is that.

I said over and over again. If removing 3.5mm is the trend, then the standard that replacing 3.5mm need to be open standard, hence USB C. If Apple insist forcing us to use Lightning headphone, then Apple will face even more backslash.

[doublepost=1472692410][/doublepost]

I actually want to hear what Apple has to say on this before deciding what my new phone will be. It's like MBA without ODD, everyone called it bull for not having it, but Apple was right to remove it. There were few who really needed it, and now many laptops available on market don't have them. Heck, even desktops don't have them anymore.

Frankly from where I'm standing, I only use wired headphones on flight (on-flight entertainment thing). Other than that, even Bose has noise-canceling wireless headset. I doubt not having 3.5 will affect me, except for few cases where I share speakers while barbecuing with friends.

The key world is MANY, not ALL. Same Thing probably will happen to 3.5mm, you will always be able to find phones with 3.5mm and whichever phone offers that, I will buy.

Regarding with Optical drive. If there is choice between one with and one without, I will buy one wth, even if it is thicker than one without. So, if there is one with optical drive, I will boy that one.

 

[Rian Gray]

Regarding with Optical drive. If there is choice between one with and one without, I will buy one wth, even if it is thicker than one without. So, if there is one with optical drive, I will boy that one.

I just use portable ODD when I need one. Not that many times, but it does happen time to time. That being said, in my case (I can't speak for all people obviously) I wasn't affected with not having ODD in my laptops. It was removable of FDD that taunted me most, but heck, I managed.

But then at the same time, I hear you. If that's high up on your list, perhaps simply skip it, buy another phone, or etc. Apple has history of returning to old feature anyway, such as physical buttons on iPod Shuffle. They may as well return to 3.5 later on, if that's the popular choice. Again, if not having 3.5 was going to affect me greatly, I might as well stay with what I have right now.

 

[LovingTeddy]

I just use portable ODD when I need one. Not that many times, but it does happen time to time. That being said, in my case (I can't speak for all people obviously) I wasn't affected with not having ODD in my laptops. It was removable of FDD that taunted me most, but heck, I managed.

But then at the same time, I hear you. If that's high up on your list, perhaps simply skip it, buy another phone, or etc. Apple has history of returning to old feature anyway, such as physical buttons on iPod Shuffle. They may as well return to 3.5 later on, if that's the popular choice. Again, if not having 3.5 was going to affect me greatly, I might as well stay with what I have right now.

I understand. If 3.5mm is going to be replaced. Then I am sure I will buy some phone usin open standard port.

If USB-C is the one replacing 3.5mm, then I probably will able to manage it.

What I will not do is, buying a phone with proprietary port that replacing a standard port. I will not buy a headphone that ONLY works with iDevices. That is not acceptable and waste of money. It is like you buying a Toyota car, but only can use Toyota gasoline. It is absurd

 

[chrisforpm]

I have never seen so many people get so angry about making a technology from the 1970s obsolete. Out of curiosity, how did you feel when CD players replaced cassette decks in cars?

 

[eoblaed]

If I can't simultaneously charge the phone and use the Lightning port for a corded headset, I will move to Android. It's that simple.

There are too many times at work when I need to be doing both. And wireless products just don't cut it yet.

So -- assuming the 3.5-mm jack is truly gone, that means there has to be either (1) wireless charging, or (2) some way to simultaneously put power into the phone and get an audio signal out of it, through the Lightning port.

Both seem doubtful.

How do others feel about this?

I understand your concern, but I think it's a bit of a non-issue anymore.

There are very few times I charge and headphone at the same time. Sometimes I'll do it when going to bed, but it's unnecessary, really. Even if Apple doesn't supply (or have available to purchase) a slick set of bluetooth-EarPods (AirPods, I've heard them called), I'll continue to use the wired ones while in bed and plug the phone into power before going to sleep.

The only other times I'm charging while 'listening' is when I'm in the car and the phone is playing via bluetooth (I'll still be able to do that), or sometimes when I'm working out ... but even then I'm using bluetooth headphones as well.

I say, don't knock it 'till you try it.

 

[kybldmstr]

[doublepost=1472685571][/doublepost]
How do you imagine an adapter could resolve this issue? A 2 female-into-1 male splitter? It would have to be capable of both taking in power and providing digital sound. Is that electronically possible?

When you plug your iPhone into a sound system dock it plays music and charges. So yes it is possible

 

[pish6969]

If you want the headphone jack, get the 6s or Se or switch to Android. Problem solved

..the voice of reason

 

[maxsix]

Android's headed that way too. Look at the new droid

Android is _Not_ headed that way...Moto is.
[doublepost=1472697572][/doublepost]

No, I'm not saying that. The number of times I need to to do both simultaneously is infrequent.

I gave a specific use case, which happens to be one my favourite activities, where I do need to charge while plugged in the majority of the time while driving on a multi day trip.

Many of us charge while using wired ear buds / headset.

However I fully understand the importance that Apple places on customer lock-in while selling countless adapters, wires, proprietary connectors et al.

The Devotees love giving their money to Apple, then bragging about how much money the company has...

 

[LovingTeddy]

I have never seen so many people get so angry about making a technology from the 1970s obsolete. Out of curiosity, how did you feel when CD players replaced cassette decks in cars?

I still misses the cassette deck in cars. You can hook up with your phone via 3.5mm with a fake cassette tape.

My old 2003 Chevy Cavalier has no cassette deck and no 3.5mm. I have way connecting my phone. Not until I get 2008 Chevy Malibu, I can use 3.5mm audio jack.

Also, 3.5mm is still widely used. Not only not on the smartphone, but also on other devices. There are probably more 3.5mm headphone than any other kind of headphone. 3.5mm is not dying technology, it is the most popular audio connection option.

When you try take away the headphone jack, you are waiting for backslash.

 

[chrisforpm]

I am not sure I understand correctly here so hopefully someone can explain it to me. Everyone complains that Apple isn't innovating and falling behind the competition. So they get rid of an old technology and replace it with something new and most likely going to be a standard in a few years. Now all of a sudden they are innovating too much?

 

[Michael Scrip]

I still misses the cassette deck in cars. You can hook up with your phone via 3.5mm with a fake cassette tape.

My old 2003 Chevy Cavalier has no cassette deck and no 3.5mm. I have way connecting my phone. Not until I get 2008 Chevy Malibu, I can use 3.5mm audio jack.

So yeah.

Yep! There was that awkward period in cars after cassette decks and before AUX jacks.

I still remember aftermarket head units... dash kits... and wiring harnesses... oh my!

 

[lordofthereef]

Not to sound insensitive. But soon you won't be able to buy any phone then. 3.5mm headphone jacks are outdated technology. I give it no more than 5 years until all 3.5mm jacks are removed from devices. There are so many better ways to listen to movies and audio compared to 3.5mm. Even USB headphones provide better sound quality. There are two reasons why I see Apple is doing away with it. 1)Waterproofing. 2) For a better audio experience.

In that five years, if we don't have significantly improved Bluetooth earbuds/phones (sound quality, battery life, confront, etc). I'd be very surprised.

It's not that I refuse to use Bluetooth. It's that I greatly prefer/need buds and everything in the market is overpriced and underperforming compared to corded.

But anyway, nothing about what is happening now leads me to believe we will have a market completely devoid of a 3.5mm jack in even five years. I guess we will see.

This horse has been beaten. I'll never understand how some folks are so bothered by s port that they never have to use if they don't want to. I feel the same about the mute switch but I could take it or leave it. I hardly ever use it and it's existence doesn't bother me. It can stay or go and it wouldn't change my life one bit.
[doublepost=1472699871][/doublepost]

I am not sure I understand correctly here so hopefully someone can explain it to me. Everyone complains that Apple isn't innovating and falling behind the competition. So they get rid of an old technology and replace it with something new and most likely going to be a standard in a few years. Now all of a sudden they are innovating too much?

Afaik they're getting rid of old technology and replacing it with nothing. That's really the problem people have. Removing s headphone jack and placing a (fake) speaker grill in its place isn't innovation. St least not IMO.

 

[bhayes444]

I am not sure I understand correctly here so hopefully someone can explain it to me. Everyone complains that Apple isn't innovating and falling behind the competition. So they get rid of an old technology and replace it with something new and most likely going to be a standard in a few years. Now all of a sudden they are innovating too much?

You kind of got it, but not fully. Apple wouldn't be replacing it with anything new, just getting rid of it. The current lightning ports already provide audio out. People are upset that they are taking away the 3.5mm jack and not replacing it with anything new. This compounds with the fact that lightning is not an open standard, so you couldn't even swap your headphones between devices very easily; unless they came with replaceable cables for lightning and USB C. Also, people point to different reasons as to why the jack will be excluded; thinner phone, waterproofing, etc. Problem with that is other manufacturers have accomplished these goals without sacrificing the 3.5mm port. I think that mostly sums it up.

Personally I think that Apple is headed down the route of eliminating all ports on the phone to make for a true wireless device. Obviously charging is a roadblock right now, but if Apple could sell you a phone with no ports, that wasn't a hassle to use, they would.

 

[HEK]

Yup, I have the same problems. And, if people really want to mock, I'll admit it - beyond the annoying feature of having to be charged, wireless earphones freak me out from a health perspective.

Guess you don't understand the iPhone is transmitting and the headphones are receiving. So what health perspective, squeezing of your head? radio waves are passing through your body regardless of you wearing headphones. Maybe if you tape the phone to side of head, or make a phone call holding phone to ear you may have an issue as now transmitter is up against your head.

 

[2IS]

This isn't at all a concern for me. The only time I've ever charged and listened to musc at the same time is if the phone is sitting in my dock, which is still going to be doable with the 7 or when I'm in my car, in which case it's using Bluetooth audio, which I can do with the 7. I've never tethered myself to my phone AND a wall outlet at the same time.

That said, I won't be getting the 7, has nothing to do with the headphone jack, merely because I don't think it's enough of an upgrade.
[doublepost=1472700648][/doublepost]

Guess you don't understand the iPhone is transmitting and the headphones are receiving. So what health perspective, squeezing of your head?

Bluetooth can send and receive, most Bluetooth headphones also have a microphone in addition to buttons to allow you to switch volume, pause, change the track, etc. All these are functions that transmit a signal.

 

[HEK]

This isn't at all a concern for me. The only time I've ever charged and listened to musc at the same time is if the phone is sitting in my dock, which is still going to be doable with the 7 or when I'm in my car, in which case it's using Bluetooth audio, which I can do with the 7. I've never tethered myself to my phone AND a wall outlet at the same time.

That said, I won't be getting the 7, has nothing to do with the headphone jack, merely because I don't think it's enough of an upgrade.
[doublepost=1472700648][/doublepost]

Bluetooth can send and receive, most Bluetooth headphones also have a microphone in addition to buttons to allow you to switch volume, pause, change the track, etc. All these are functions that transmit a signal.

With the amount of rf going through your body from hundreds of surrounding sources, you clicking volume or changing track is least thing to worry about. You have 1,000 watt volume button transmitter on your headphone?