Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple dropped the headphone jack to sell you their overpriced bluetooth headphones. Pretty obvious.

Actually, compared to the competition, the AirPods are not overpriced. For what you’re receiving with the battery technology, simplicity of features and the portable battery charging case, I think the AirPods are appropriately priced when you consider what they deliver in capabilities and convenience. I can’t tell you how much I use my AirPods almost every day for workouts and they are an excellent accessory to the iPhone. There is a reason they are still highly popular even after being released over a year ago.
 
It's comments like this that make Gruber annoy me. Because he makes some great points on his podcast.

Samsung includes because they can. They can still achieve a resistance rating of ip68 (I believe Apple claimed that was one of the reasons for remvoing it?)

I had an iPhone 7 and now have a pixel 2 xl. I still miss the headphone jack. It is still an inconvenience. I have to remember where I put my powerbeats and also remember to bring them with me. I can't just grab a random pair of headphones. I still have my iPhone 6 just for music (which is hooked up to my stereo system).

A lot of my friends also have nice systems as well. But I can't just walk in and plug my phone in.

It's the one thing with apple that just doesn't work.
 
At the cost of battery space and aesthetics. Not saying it was a wrong decision, but for one, I like Apple's approach.
I don't take issue with their approach but I do with asking why everyone else isn't following suit.
 
Physical headphone jacks are necessary when connecting and outputting audio from a device to consumer or professional audio equipment, such as mixers, speakers and so on. Without that physical connection, it becomes much more difficult to output that audio signal. I'm not sure how many people use their smartphones in this way, but if this is important to manufacturers and consumers, then the jack needs to stay in there.

The other issue is that many consumers likely do not want to purchase a new set of Bluetooth or other wireless headphones, because it is another investment. They might not be too expensive, but these little expenses add up to the ownership price of a device.
 
Because ditching the headphone jack would be a stupid thing for them to do.

It's something they have over Apple. For somebody who wants that jack, it's a huge advantage.

And I don't know anybody who doesn't want that jack. They're living without it, but they're not happy about it.

Honestly, at this point Apple should admit they made a stupid mistake and bring back the headphone jack for this fall's new iPhone.
Ignorance at best. I don’t miss it at all. My Jaybird X3s sound amazing.
 
Certain people want to be Steve Jobs, so if Steve Jobs ditched the Floppy or the CDROM, they want to be as powerful as he was. Wrongly trying to ditch stuff that are not comparable in any way to the floppy or the CDROM decadence. Long live the Jack, its faster, easier, higher quality and you never have to charge it.
 
"Commentary: Apple arguably has an advantage in this space thanks to its custom W1 chip, which provides a quick and seamless connection between Apple devices and its wireless headphones like AirPods"

That's only because Apple made it happen... If there was no Airpods or a design change for Airpods, the headphone jack probably would have stayed.

Thus, the the removal of the headphone jack made it the lead in for these products. Apple didn't approach users for this,, they decided for themselves, and thought would be best.. As long as you keep adapters round, you can do anything you like.
 
Not only is the 3.5mm jack useful (especially when integrated with in-line microphone/click-controls) for audio, but it also does act as a great external radio(FM) wire.

Not sure Apple is "figuring out" what customers want.

They figured out what I don't want. What they're currently selling. So I moved over to Windows and Android, and am slowly getting friends and family in the "Mac" ecosystem to switch when they're on the lookout for new electronics.

If Apple decides they want me back, they can start selling actual personal computer products again. Instead of overpriced name-brand non-user-serviceable appliances.
 
I got rid of my floppy discs years ago, and haven't looked back. I realize a lot of people like their jack security blanket. Start preparing yourselves now for life without it. Samsung will ditch it as well. Join the rest of us in the future. :)
Yes you got rid of floppy discs because everyone did, not just one manufacturer. It was industry wide! Not a real comparison.

I don't think the Jack needs a security blanket, it just works. Unlike the lightning adapters that break or the IOS updates that break them instead.... or when you're left without any headphones because your bluetooth ones have just run out of battery power.

As good as the Airpods are, they don't last long enough for me and they don't connect to any other Pro audio device I use.
 
They haven't ditched it as people like me still want it. I have stopped upgrading phones now and it seems I will be running my iPhone 6S and Pixel Mk1 until they die. Hopefully by then people will have realised the wonder of "plug and play" headphones, rather than forcing me to use yet another device that needs charging and carrying around adaptors.

Unfortunately, the S9 doesn't run raw Android, so until that day...
I agree completely. When I heard the iPhone 7 would be without a headphone jack, I got a 6s 1-2 months before the arrival of the 7. I am going to hang on to it for as long as I can.

When the time comes when the 6s dies (or Apple declares it obsolete), I am going to buy my first Android phone (been buying iPhones since the iPhone 3). Looking at the OnePlus 5t...and others. It's going to take some adjustment, but I refuse to give up my very-well-sounding headphones just bc Apple made a stupid and unnecessary decision. Why would I?

Others might be awed by the sound quality of their AirPods. Me, not so much.
 
Last edited:
Yes you got rid of floppy discs because everyone did, not just one manufacturer. It was industry wide! Not a real comparison.

I don't think the Jack needs a security blanket, it just works. Unlike the lightning adapters that break or the IOS updates that break them instead.... or when you're left without any headphones because your bluetooth ones have just run out of battery power.

As good as the Airpods are, they don't last long enough for me and they don't connect to any other Pro audio device I use.
A lot of my post was tongue and cheek. You wouldn't have known that, unless you know my posting style. :)

I know the cord works well for a lot of people. Apple did away with it. Complaining about it over and over isn't going to change the course that Apple has embraced. If that means a person switches to Samsung or keeps buying used iPhones, so be it.
 
Actually, compared to the competition, the AirPods are not overpriced. For what you’re receiving with the battery technology, simplicity of features and the portable battery charging case, I think the AirPods are appropriately priced when you consider what they deliver in capabilities and convenience. I can’t tell you how much I use my AirPods almost every day for workouts and they are an excellent accessory to the iPhone. There is a reason they are still highly popular even after being released over a year ago.
The price is on point with the type of tech it houses so, yes I do agree, but I think the gestures could use a little bit more work. I turned them off because I'm constantly tapping on them accidentally and it invokes the gestures unexpectedly. This the first generation so I expect it to get better from this point forward.
 
Ultimately Apple need to get their own house in order if wondering why others aren't following suit.
For example....
- Macbooks use standard Headphone Jacks but not their iPhones
- iPhones use Lightning ports but Macbooks use USB-C

So out the box, the latest iPhone will NOT plug into their latest Macbook. Your lightning headphones will not connect to a Macbook and the many standard jack headphones you have will only work with your Macbook.
You can argue that they can all communicate via BT but then you'd be missing the point.

Ironically Samsung is more compatible with Apple than Apple!

Samsung phone offers USB-C which connects to the new Macbook, it has a standard headphone jack and my Samsung Note 8 even came with a USB-C to Lightning adapter!

So Samsung connects to more Apple products in more ways than Apple do themselves.
 
Last edited:
Ultimately Apple need to get their own house in order before wondering why others aren't following suit.
For example....
- Macbooks use standard Headphone Jacks but not their iPhones
- iPhones use Lightning ports but Macbooks use USB-C

So out the box, the latest iPhone will NOT plug into their latest Macbook. Your lightning headphones will not connect to a Macbook and the many standard jack headphones you have will only work with your Macbook.
You can argue that they can all communicate via BT but then you'd be missing the point.

Ironically Samsung is more compatible with Apple than Apple!

Samsung phone offers USB-C which connects to the new Macbook, it has a standard headphone jack and my Samsung Note 8 even came with a USB-C to Lightning adapter!

So Samsung connects to more Apple products in more ways than Apple do themselves.
Apple isn't wondering why. The question posed is from an article written by John Gruber.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dinocaira
A lot of my post was tongue and cheek. You wouldn't have known that, unless you know my posting style. :)

I know the cord works well for a lot of people. Apple did away with it. Complaining about it over and over isn't going to change the course that Apple has embraced. If that means a person switches to Samsung or keeps buying used iPhones, so be it.
Apologies appreciate the humour :)
And I agree complaining about it isn't going to help. I voted with my feet and walked away to Samsung.
I was Apple for years and encouraged others to do the same. Hopefully in the future they'll see sense and get back the customers they lost.

If Apple isn't wondering why others aren't following suit as I suggested in my last post.... then they should.
 
  • Like
Reactions: H818H and 5105973
I got rid of my floppy discs years ago, and haven't looked back. I realize a lot of people like their jack security blanket. Start preparing yourselves now for life without it. Samsung will ditch it as well. Join the rest of us in the future. :)
Dropping the headphone jack is nothing like dropping the floppy drive.

It was a lazy move by Apple to drop the headphone jack, and not provide a proper solution. Real ‘courage’ would have been dropping lighting and moving to USB C and thus having a standard headphone connector, instead of the stupid situation we have now.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.