iPhone 7 May Feature Thinner, Waterproof Body With No Headphone Jack and Wireless Charging

[Mac 128]

Conceptually, if everyone would adopt ONE wireless charging standard, pads would pop up everywhere (think of how it is with wifi now). Eventually, it would get to a point where you could confidently leave home for a trip and not have to lug along the brick and cord because you would have faith that the hotel where you are staying or the airport where you have the long layover or the restaurant where you'll get a bite of food, etc will have a charging pad that works with your phone. It might take a long time to get to that point, but the strength of Apple iDevice sales volume could speed it up once Apple adopts a standard OR implements a proprietary standard that somewhat presses the rest of the world to adapt... or pay up for 2 pads at all those locations.

It's coming. But one step at a time. I don't see wireless charging really taking off until it can be transmitted without requiring some kind of charging mat. That way, you set up a single charging "tower" in your house, and another one in your car, and never have to worry about it again. Of course that would be followed by public charging spaces at Starbucks, and airports, etc. Tesla invented this technology to power cities 100 years ago, so I'm not sure where it stands today. And don't we always need some kind of "diagnostic" port in case the wireless interfaces fail? Apple pretended like with the Retina MacBook marketing that they didn't even have to include a port of any kind, but because they included one for charging they decided to go with the USB-C that could do it all. Right. In the end, wireless is the future for everything. But there's always a need for a backup. No matter how good battery life gets, the option to plug a cable into something rather than rely on battery life or wireless is important. But the connector size will continue to shrink as well.

On the other hand, they introduced inductive charging with the Watch, which is likely going to persist as an iPhone accessory for at least a few more years. And then there's the iPad Pro keyboard connector which would also serve as a magnetic inductive charging port. That way, you've got one charger for both, which also works on the iPad. And eventually the Mac. That also solves the problem of removing the 3.5mm jack, and being able to plug in one's headphones while charging the phone.

However, the problem really is whether inductive charging is up to the same level as direct charging via Lightning. The rMacBook included one port, according to Apple's marketing, because a physical connection is still the best way to charge something. But maybe that's only true at this point for the massive battery requirements of a MacBook, but the efficiency difference for the iPhone is nominal? I don't know.

Regardless, it's not really different than plugging a cord into the phone, versus sticking it onto the surface. The Lightning port isn't likely to go anywhere for a while, and it doesn't really improve the charging capabilities of the device. All it really does is eliminate the need for a passthrough adapter on the Lightning headphones, and other dongles. And it introduces yet another adapter every Apple customer will have to buy whether they use and Watch or not -- granted, I would expect Lightning to continue to charge the phone as well.

But that brings up another point, however little room the hardware takes up to implement, is it worth having a redundant charging system with so little payoff? It's not like Lightning connectors are notorious for failing. Again, Apple usually introduces new tech when they can really make a splash, and wireless power, regardless of where your phone is in the room is very cool, and would be the Apple way to do this -- not essentially the same thing as what Samsung is doing with their charging mats.

In the plus column, true wireless, over-the-air charging, would eliminate one complaint against Bluetooth headphones, in that they could always be charging when you weren't using them, so they would always be charged and ready to go.

 

[jayducharme]

I just realized something else: getting rid of that 1/8" jack will make all of the Square (and similar) devices obsolete. I'll bet that company won't be happy with having to manufacture and distribute all new card readers to their clients.

 

[npmacuser5]

Form vs Function is a challenging aspect of product development. Apple has done an excellent job in this arena and as such I differ my judgement until one, it actually happens, and two for users to test out the new designs. They will vote with their monies if it is a thumbs up or not. Time will tell.

 

[MarkusL]

Not an Apple fan? I have something for you! I also have a Motorola Razr. The good one. Flips open! For you cheap!

Only $400 off contract.

The funny thing is that you are the one who is not an Apple fan, not Darryl. You are the one who is criticizing Apple for including a 3.5 mm jack on the 6s and earlier. Darryl on the other hand approves of that design decision by Apple.

You're not praising Apple, you're praising this silly rumor. Surely you prefer that failed HTC without a headphone jack over the headphone-jack-infested iPhones.

 

[Misaki]

Before people panic over Apple's obsession with thinness, realize removing the 3.5mm jack would save some internal space regardless of how thin the iPhone 7 will be. That means that the iPhone 7 could have the same thickness as the 6 while having a larger battery due to internal space saved.

Two components would be removed by this move, the relatively large 3.5mm jack module and the DAC (digital to analog converter), which would now be integrated in headphones rather than inside your phone. The DAC is one of the largest component on the PCB right now, I believe only the SoC, NAND and LTE modem are larger.

Personally, I don't think the iPhone 7 should be thinner than the 6, but I would still appreciate if the 3.5mm jack got removed.

On top of the saved internal space, moving to Lightning provides certain benefits:

• Possibility of using a DAC that's better than the one in the iPhone in high-end headphones.
• Less degradation due to the transmission through an analog cable. Also less likely to hear a hiss when moving the jack due to dust etc.
• Possibility of headphones recharging your phone or vice-versa. Particularly useful for docks and soundboxes that both charge your phone and play music using a single cable.
• Possibility of sending additional data from your headphones to your phone. Stuff like battery level in noise-cancelling headphones. Or increased reliability and features of headphone remotes.

Edit: Scratch that about the DAC removal part. As some have pointed, you still need it to use internal speakers. Apple may choose a lower-quality internal DAC that's significantly smaller though, since you don't need a good DAC just for speakers.

If Apple removes the 3.5mm jack, I hope they put two lightning jacks on the phone then. One on the camera side and one on the bottom. This is the only logical reason for it. To do otherwise is to ignore how hated the "single connector to charge and connect headphones" was on the Nintendo Gameboy Advance clamshell design, and also numerous Nokia phones before Bluetooth killed off the cell phone car kit business.

Removing the 3.5mm connector might be a requirement to make it waterproof, since the connectors are the weakest point. That said, the shape of the 3.5m connector is what makes it hard to damage the phone. Rigid connectors like lightning, the 30-pin connector, and various USB connectors always have excessive amounts of force applied to them due to people forgetting to unplug them, or lifting the device by the cord.

So while I am all for replacing the connector with a standardized digital pin/barrel connector for multi-channel headphones/microphones (mini-toslink?) I thing this is a boneheaded approach that will certainly backfire without a way to charge the device while listening to it. And no, Bluetooth headphones are a complete joke, and are not a suitable replacement.

 

[Gasu E.]

Removing the 3.5mm potentially interferes with a number of the basic needs of their users. *But* Apple may have good solutions to address those needs in another way. We shall see how they handle it, I suppose... And whether what we gain is worth what we lose.

Need: To listen to iPhone audio via headphones out of the box
Good Solution: Include new lightning or bluetooth EarPods
Bad Solution: Include adapter and old 3.5mm EarPods
Ugly Solution: No longer included

Need: To charge and listen at the same time
Good Solution: Add wireless charging
Bad Solution: 2-to-1 adapter
Ugly Solution: No longer possible

Need: To use my existing wired headphones or speakers
Good Solution: Adapter, included
Bad Solution: Adapter, purchased separately
Ugly Solution: No longer possible

I think you have your "Bad" and Ugly" solutions reversed.

 

[djcerla]

Except that Beats are junk and people who actually like good headphones would never consider those.

I have the Powerbeats 2. They're fantastic, good sound, long battery life and perfect at the gym. I don't know about old Beats products, but the Powebeats 2 are far from junk.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

The funny thing is that you are the one who is not an Apple fan, not Darryl. You are the one who is criticizing Apple for including a 3.5 mm jack on the 6s and earlier. Darryl on the other hand approves of that design decision by Apple.

You're not praising Apple, you're praising this silly rumor. Surely you prefer that failed HTC without a headphone jack over the headphone-jack-infested iPhones.

You'll probably give that guy a stroke. To imply that he is anti-Apple in any way might kill him. Consider editing your post unless you want a potential death on your hands

 

[apolloa]

It appears you are not aware. Yes, other manufacturers dumped their optical drives. Apple lead the charge. Same with floppy disks, SCSI ports, and including wireless keyboards/mice, and more.

No they didn't, you are thinking of MacBook Air clones, not professional laptops, oh and Apple was in NO WAY the first to remove optical drives from small laptops. Apple doesn't lead anything like how you are suggesting.

 

[OllyW]

Beside the DAC available for the internal speaker, you still could use a (better) DAC in the a headphone via the lightning port. With the analog 3.5mm jack this option is not available.

You can already do that. Sony and Philips already make headphones with a Lightning connection.

 

[Mac 128]

I just realized something else: getting rid of that 1/8" jack will make all of the Square (and similar) devices obsolete. I'll bet that company won't be happy with having to manufacture and distribute all new card readers to their clients.

The old readers will likely still work with the adapter, though they'll probably have to update their software. Or not.

Either way, they won't skip a beat. That's business.

 

[bonehead]

Beside the DAC available for the internal speaker, you still could use a (better) DAC in the a headphone via the lightning port. With the analog 3.5mm jack this option is not available.

You can use an external DAC via the lightning port with current iPhones AND you have the option of the 3.5mm jack to use the built-in DAC. Removing the 3.5mm give you less options.

 

[oldmacs]

Maybe Apple will sell a 'sport' or 'active' iPhone 7, with no ports. Hopefully a more normal iPhone 7 with suitable ports will also be sold.

 

[TMRJIJ]

My god, Apple. Just take my wallet already. I mean, . . .seriously. New noise-canceling technology?! Waterproof casing?! Keep my credit card.

 

[oldmacs]

You can use an external DAC via the lightning port with current iPhones AND you have the option of the 3.5mm jack to use the built-in DAC. Removing the 3.5mm give you less options.

Exactly. Nothing is holding back current users from using lightning headphones or bluetooth headphones, and those of us who don't want the bother are continuing to use the 3.5 mm port.

 

[Gutwrench]

How does wireless charging work?

 

[zone23]

iPhone 7 release with no headphone jack forums OMG six months later no one gives a crap.

 

[RAWandVITAL]

My only worry, if they ditch the headphone jack and the only way to plug headphones in is via the lighting port, what does that mean for headphone product and the variety alike? I don't want to have to only use apple's headphones on the device.

 

[Zwhaler]

Does this means Apple will push manufacturers to make lightning only headphones? Or will these headphones also have 3.5mm jack? I can't use lightning headphones in my studio, or anywhere else for that matter. How do I charge my device while the lightning headphones are plugged in?

 

[Blaze4G]

lol at some of these Apple fanboys.

There is ZERO benefit to removing it. But you guys still try to convince yourselves that their is.

 

[MH01]

$30?! Dude that would be a steal!!! Have you seen how much Apple charges for those damn things?
[doublepost=1452212353][/doublepost]I actually want to see the headphone jack removed. And as long as they include wireless EarPods I'll be very very happy

If you listen to music with EarPods , it's one version where the wireless unit would not sound a lot worse

I have a set of B&O H8 and geez the wired sounds so much better. Wireless audio frankly still has a long way to go.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Before people panic over Apple's obsession with thinness, realize removing the 3.5mm jack would save some internal space regardless of how thin the iPhone 7 will be. That means that the iPhone 7 could have the same thickness as the 6 while having a larger battery due to internal space saved.

Two components would be removed by this move, the relatively large 3.5mm jack module and the DAC (digital to analog converter), which would now be integrated in headphones rather than inside your phone. The DAC is one of the largest component on the PCB right now, I believe only the SoC, NAND and LTE modem are larger.

Personally, I don't think the iPhone 7 should be thinner than the 6, but I would still appreciate if the 3.5mm jack got removed.

On top of the saved internal space, moving to Lightning provides certain benefits:

• Possibility of using a DAC that's better than the one in the iPhone in high-end headphones.
• Less degradation due to the transmission through an analog cable. Also less likely to hear a hiss when moving the jack due to dust etc.
• Possibility of headphones recharging your phone or vice-versa. Particularly useful for docks and soundboxes that both charge your phone and play music using a single cable.
• Possibility of sending additional data from your headphones to your phone. Stuff like battery level in noise-cancelling headphones. Or increased reliability and features of headphone remotes.

Edit: Scratch that about the DAC removal part. As some have pointed, you still need it to use internal speakers. Apple may choose a lower-quality internal DAC that's significantly smaller though, since you don't need a good DAC just for speakers.

The DAC isn't going anywhere. What do you think powers the earpiece, mic, and speaker?

 

[Flow39]

lol at some of these Apple fanboys.

There is ZERO benefit to removing it. But you guys still try to convince yourselves that their is.

This is what I was telling them in the last thread! There is no benefit to doing this other than for the sake of Apple looking "edgy".

I used to be a huge fanboy like this, but then one day I realized that not everything Apple does is great. And that day was when I was 15. I pulled the fanboy goggles off and started viewing things objectively. I think that needs to happen to some people here IMO.

 

[MH01]

lol at some of these Apple fanboys.

There is ZERO benefit to removing it. But you guys still try to convince yourselves that their is.

Profit for apple. People defending it will pay more....go figure.

I'll just move onto the best phone on the market with a 3.5mm jack.

For once this is a deal breaker for me, though my 6S plus will last me a few more years.

 

[bonehead]

As much as everyone wants to make this about moving to Lightning as the new standard, it isn't.

The new standard is wireless audio. When Apple changes the Lightning connector, or removes it entirely some day, with any luck, by that time, everyone will be moved onto Bluetooth or its successor. This is the future of audio, not being tethered to equipment for the rest of eternity.

In order for Bluetooth audio to make advances, the cheap, ubiquitous 3.5mm adapter needs to go away. Otherwise, people are going to cling to the cheapest, easiest, best sounding alternative available. And once it goes away if they still want to cling to it, there will be adapters. But it will create opportunities for the developer to fill the new demand fro wireless which is almost going to be a guarantee over investing in a proprietary standard, and to a lesser extent using adapters. As a result, the technology will improve, and prices will come down, until eventually there's no question what kind of headphones a consumer wants. All things being equal, people are going to want the ability to move unencumbered with their headphones, not remain tethered to them by a wire.

I think a lot of consumers might like not having one more thing to keep charged. The 3.5mm jack works and consumer already have the choice between wired and wireless headphones. Remove the jack and you limit the choices a consumer has.