POLL: 3.5 mm headphone jack

[redman042]

I can't vote "yes" or "no" without seeing the whole package, specifically what is gained by removing the headphone jack.

Knowing Apple, and knowing that the next upgrade is the "tock" cycle (ie. innovations to the casing and form factor), I think a lot remains to be seen. I really doubt this is just about removing a millimeter of thickness, or forcing change to how headphones are made. I suspect there will be other innovations in the iPhone 7, such as an edge-to-edge display, that would not be possible if they didn't get the gargantuan headphone jack out of the picture.

If the overall package is excellent, and if it is shown that the headphone jack would have got in the way of these improvements, then I can support it and live with the need for adapters. Otherwise I would vote no. It's too early to say. Heck, we don't even know if Apple has made a final decision to do this.

 

[redman042]

Absolutely. Its about time we get rid of that headphone jack. I'm hoping Apple pushes everything over to bluetooth, including a bluetooth pair of the EarPods with each iPhone. Than the people who really want to go hard wired can go through the lightning cable, but for me I want to go all bluetooth.

Bluetooth isn't the holy grail you are making it out to be. It's glitchy, it compresses audio, and it has to be charged. I'm glad to have the option but I opt for wired headphones most of the time, and will continue to do so. Bluetooth is going to have to evolve a lot to compete with my Sony MDR-7506 cans.

 

[yaboyac29]

if we want smaller bezels, we need to get rid of the headphone jack. look at how long it is.

since the device is thin, we can't hide it behind the display.

 

[CTHarrryH]

Don't want it - don't want to have to get one or more adapters - I'm not a big headphone user - use it for calls mostly and occasionally for music. Don't care about thinner bezel but I do care about having to buy things that don't work with other devices or that I'll probably have to have 2 of to be sure I have when i need it.

 

[jpgr15]

Just read an article on the jack issue on Cult of Mac (linked below for anyone that cares). The author has a really sickening attitude about the whole thing.

If Apple is really planning to kill the iPhone headphone jack in the model it reveals next year, it’s ditching 60 years of history.

Really? First of all, since when has Apple been afraid of ditching established computing standards? You'd think writing for Cult of Mac he'd know better than to think Apple even remotely cares about that.

Second, 60 years is an eternity in technology. Maybe Apple thinks there's a better way.

There's an old saying that goes something like: "The most dangerous words in the English language are, 'we've always done it this way.'"

I don't like buying new accessories any more than the next person does but we don't know what Apple has to offer yet. Maybe it's much better than 60 year old 3.5mm technology. Change is hard but we won't be able to progress without it.

Why should Apple not do this if it improves the device and experience? Complacency is no excuse not to move forward with technology.

People eventually got over the lightning issue and now our phones are better because of it.

Just my two cents. Take it for what it's worth.

http://www.cultofmac.com/399993/apple-would-be-stupid-to-drop-the-iphone-headphone-jack/

 

[sunking101]

Absolutely. Its about time we get rid of that headphone jack. I'm hoping Apple pushes everything over to bluetooth, including a bluetooth pair of the EarPods with each iPhone. Than the people who really want to go hard wired can go through the lightning cable, but for me I want to go all bluetooth.

Bluetooth audio is low quality, plus it means a further drain on the phone battery for no good reason. All to gain what, a slightly thinner phone? I'll pass.

 

[jpgr15]

Bluetooth audio is low quality, plus it means a further drain on the phone battery for no good reason. All to gain what, a slightly thinner phone? I'll pass.

I just got my first pair of Bluetooth headphones this week - just in time for four different flights. Honestly, not untangling those wires and dealing with them in a confined space has been great. I'll give up some battery life for that.

 

[sunking101]

if we want smaller bezels, we need to get rid of the headphone jack. look at how long it is.

since the device is thin, we can't hide it behind the display.

Other phones manage to be thin, light, plus they also have tiny bezels and a headphone jack. I'm sure Apple would have no problems fitting a smaller battery if internal space really was at a premium.

 

[sunking101]

I just got my first pair of Bluetooth headphones this week - just in time for four different flights. Honestly, not untangling those wires and dealing with them in a confined space has been great. I'll give up some battery life for that.

Sound quality should be paramount. You're giving up fidelity and sacrificing battery life just for a minor gain in convenience.

 

[jpgr15]

I'm sure Apple would have no problems fitting a smaller battery if internal space really was at a premium.

Quick! Grab the pitchforks! Rabble, rabble, rabble.

*Love macrumoring*

 

[jpgr15]

Sound quality should be paramount. You're giving up fidelity and sacrificing battery life just for a minor gain in convenience.

Well, I haven't noticed a difference in sound quality. Maybe I'm in the minority, maybe I'm not. I don't know. All I know is my experience has been impacted positively.

 

[sunking101]

Well, I haven't noticed a difference in sound quality. Maybe I'm in the minority, maybe I'm not. I don't know. All I know is my experience has been impacted positively.

I'm not going to try and dispute that.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Just had this thought. If Apple does get rid of the 3.5mm jack, and does introduce a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, would it also have a lightning passthrough for charging like the Lightning to HDMI adapter has?

If so, it would be the must-have car accessory. Single-cable plug to charge your phone and get music out.

I'm almost beginning to hope Apple does get rid of the 3.5mm plug just for this accessory to materialize.

 

[LovingTeddy]

if we want smaller bezels, we need to get rid of the headphone jack. look at how long it is.

since the device is thin, we can't hide it behind the display.

Dude... There are so.many phones with smaller bezel than iPhone and still have 3.5mm headphone jack...

 

[HEK]

It seems that one third of the users have been successfully brainwashed by Apple. Congrats!

Let's step up that marketing campaign Apple. Remember you can never be too thin, too young, or too rich.

 

[HEK]

Sound quality should be paramount. You're giving up fidelity and sacrificing battery life just for a minor gain in convenience.

Perhaps, and just guessing here, your minor may be more major to someone else.

 

[sunking101]

Perhaps, and just guessing here, your minor may be more major to someone else.

Agreed but surely audio playback quality should be the deciding factor here. Apple have always touted the sound quality of their devices, so using Bluetooth just destroys it. It's always better to hardwire than use Bluetooth and I don't see the cable tangling issue as being a major issue. My Sennheiser earbuds come with a wind up case.

 

[HEK]

Agreed but surely audio playback quality should be the deciding factor here. Apple have always touted the sound quality of their devices, so using Bluetooth just destroys it. It's always better to hardwire than use Bluetooth and I don't see the cable tangling issue as being a major issue. My Sennheiser earbuds come with a wind up case.

Perhaps my hearing is no longer as good as yours but, I don't find blue tooth sound in any way objectionable. And when I do carry headphones an extra adapter on the end of the wire isn't something that would stop me from carrying the headphone. Plus who is to say, a future Bluetooth connection won't have improved audio. And when my earbud wires get all tangled up in my pocket I get pissed off enough that audio playback quality is not my deciding factor at that moment at least.....grins.

Perception is a strange beast. I wonder how many people would be able to accurately tell the difference in audio quality by listening to various earphones and transfer devices, wire, blue tooth, etc. in a double blind experiment. One where the listener nor the person giving the test knows what device is being used. No electronic equipment, spec sheets, osciliscopes allowed. What percentage of the population would be able to truelly tell the difference. Especially given the hearing loss most people have. My hypothesis is if you have not read some spec sheet before hand most people would be ill equipped to hear the difference.

 

[sunking101]

Perhaps my hearing is no longer as good as yours but, I don't find blue tooth sound in any way objectionable. And when I do carry headphones an extra adapter on the end of the wire isn't something that would stop me from carrying the headphone. Plus who is to say, a future Bluetooth connection won't have improved audio. And when my earbud wires get all tangled up in my pocket I get pissed off enough that audio playback quality is not my deciding factor at that moment at least.....grins.

Perception is a strange beast. I wonder how many people would be able to accurately tell the difference in audio quality by listening to various earphones and transfer devices, wire, blue tooth, etc. in a double blind experiment. One where the listener nor the person giving the test knows what device is being used. No electronic equipment, spec sheets, osciliscopes allowed. What percentage of the population would be able to truelly tell the difference. Especially given the hearing loss most people have. My hypothesis is if you have not read some spec sheet before hand most people would be ill equipped to hear the difference.

That's probably the case for most. I'm one of those crusty 'audiophiles' who has a $20k sound system at home, so anything which lowers fidelity such as MP3s and Bluetooth transfers is an immediate no-no on principle.
I can tell the difference between a low to mid quality MP3 file size and a lossless format recording but I suppose that on a noisy subway it wouldn't really matter all that much. At the end of the day I think removing the headphone jack is a lousy idea, but if there's a suitable adaptor included in the box and if the Lightning connector is able to output lossless audio, then I don't see it being anything more than an annoyance.

 

[HEK]

That's probably the case for most. I'm one of those crusty 'audiophiles' who has a $20k sound system at home, so anything which lowers fidelity such as MP3s and Bluetooth transfers is an immediate no-no on principle.
I can tell the difference between a low to mid quality MP3 file size and a lossless format recording but I suppose that on a noisy subway it wouldn't really matter all that much. At the end of the day I think removing the headphone jack is a lousy idea, but if there's a suitable adaptor included in the box and if the Lightning connector is able to output lossless audio, then I don't see it being anything more than an annoyance.

Just noticed you joined a week before I did. .... Smiles

 

[yaboyac29]

Dude... There are so.many phones with smaller bezel than iPhone and still have 3.5mm headphone jack...

did you even bother to read the rest of my post?

yes there are other phones with a smaller bezel but they are THICKER which allows for the headphone jack to go UNDER the screen.

why is this something that people are having a hard time grasping? you can't change the dimensions of the port, it's standard.

show me a phone that has smaller bezels and we can look into it some more as to how they fit it in there.

 

[CNeufeld]

They could always put the headphone jack on the side, which would allow a very thin top or bottom bezel. Might not be as ergonomic, but...

The Vivo X5 Max is 5mm or so thick, and has a standard headphone jack according to their documentation. Just as an example...

https://www.vivoglobal.com/product/x5max/

C

 

[Nipommu]

I welcome all/any changes that simplify and minimize anything. Less of stuff is better for user experience. My computer and laptop is all apple so this isn't a problem for me.

 

[cynics]

I have multiple tools I plug into the 3.5mm jack (from credit card readers to airflow meters) that I'd prefer not to carry around an additional adaptor for. Thats assuming they will even be compatible.

Not sure what Apples obsession with "sold separately adapters" is for aside from an easy cash grab but I personally find it rather annoying.

Like the new MacBook. You could goto Apple store right now spend 2000-2500 dollars for a MacBook and an iPhone/iPad to get home and find out you don't have all the necessary equipment to actually connect them together.

The new AppleTV. I give the previous gen a little bit of leeway because if you need to restore it from iTunes it uses a micro USB and most people can find one in a junk drawer. However the new one has USB C, with no USB C cable.

Introducing the new iPad Pro with its selling feature, the Apple pencil....sold separately.

With there current track record I can only assume they will ditch the 3.5mm jack and still include there current headphones/mic just with no adaptor in the box. Why not? We are idiots, we'll buy it.

 

[cynics]

if we want smaller bezels, we need to get rid of the headphone jack. look at how long it is.

since the device is thin, we can't hide it behind the display.

I'm not sure if this is a joke or not. If so its pretty funny. If not turn your left hand 90 degrees......

Yes it would be awkward but I'm sure an actual engineer could devise a more elegant solution.