Supply Chain Rumors Reaffirm iPhone 7 Will Not Have Headphone Jack

[ececlv]

I use my headphones and earbuds on multiple products. iPhone, Macs and PCs, and a game console. I wouldn't mind replacing the 3.5 jack with something new. I would be very annoyed to replace it with a standard that Apple won't license out openly enough to make it a universal standard.

I can't even imagine apple adding a lightening adapter to the Mac, let alone finding one on my Dell.

For this to be palatable, the iPhone would need to switch to USB-C. Which seems unimaginable.

 

[chasonstone]

They're not solving any problems by taking away the headphone jack, but they are creating a bunch. So why bother? I don't use headphones terribly often but the simplicity of the 3.5mm jack shouldn't be overlooked.

I'm all for embracing the future when it's time, I just don't think we're really there yet. When we lost the optical drive I had already replaced 95% of its use with the Internet and USB's. I don't really know many people who can say the same about the 3.5mm jack. But if there's one thing I'm sure of with Apple, it's that they don't care if we think it's time or not and I wouldn't count on them providing adapters in box to ease the transition.

I would be interested if it was gone what would happen to the 3.5mm jack on Mac's. Would it be replaced with a lightning port or lost all together in pushing towards wireless? And are we gonna see adapters to plug into usb-c?

 

[8281]

People also complained when Apple removed the optical disk drive. I sure don't miss mine...

Look to the future people.

The future for you means having a less usable phone? What benefit is there for the consumer? Thanks Tim for the thinner phone...

 

[lchlch]

I think a lot of people are missing the point.

Apple is not trying to replace 3.5mm with lightning. They are trying to replace it with Bluetooth.

The EarPods will probably come with a cable that charges and sends digital data to the wireless EarPods.

DACs would be a none issue as every pair of Bluetooth headsets/earphones have DACs built in.

People who are worried about quality shouldn't even be using the iPhone's headphone jack =.=

 

[cjc2104]

This question came up frequently that last time this rumor surfaced, how would you charge and listen to music at the same time with lightning earpods? Say for example I am on the train commuting to work and need to plug my phone in because Apple is so focused on making slimmer devices they skimp out on the battery size but I want to listen to music, podcasts, etc.

 

[Leonard1818]

I would imagine one of the two functions will need to be wireless: Either charging or headphones.

I would also wonder if we're going to see the end of the apple ear buds being included.

All I know is that if I can't use my phone and charge it at the same time (yeah, yeah, bad for the battery, whatever. Never been a problem for me) that'll kinda stink. As it is now, I use the included ear buds to talk on the phone all day for work and when I get low, I plugger in to charge at the same time. I'll hope to retain the ability to do both as needed.

 

[TigerWoodsIV]

Unless it comes with two lightning ports (and you can't short it out by plugging both ends of one lighting cable into both ports) this is not like the time they went from the 30 pin to lightning because now you can't listen to music and charge your phone at the same time which I think many do in the car via the aux cable.

Exactly. I listed to music and charge my phone at work at the same time. I still have the iPod classic hooked up in my car to a head unit that uses the 30pin for music and charging, but it's not like I'm replacing my $400 headphones to get a slimmer phone. I want the damn thing fatter so I don't have to completely recharge it at least once a day. Yesterday, my 6s was at below 50% by lunch, at 100% when I left at 5:30, and at 20% by 10:30. Their battery life is atrocious.

 

[OllyW]

People who buy a lot of headphones will continue to buy a lot of headphones. They can at least spring for an adapter. Anyway, this is an audiophile-friendly move. They will love the chance to choose their own DACs rather than being stuck with the one that comes with the phone.

Nothing new there, you can already do that with the Lightning port on your iPhone.

 

[peglegjack]

If you're obsessed with music, this switch (if it happens) was made just for you. It's not a backwards step or one to purposely obsolete your equipment, but rather a change to increase the audio quality for wired headsets.

The thing is, I have a somewhat specialized issue, meaning that I like to jog. I also like to listen to music while I jog. And the only earphones that I can get to stay in my ears without issue are the old style Apple earbuds. I've tried numerous in ear bluetooth earphones along with other wired earphones after great cost and hours of research, but none of them will stay in my ear, and frankly the quality isn't worth the hassle or price. I leave my high quality listening experiences for my iMac or turntable basically.

Now what happens when Apple decides to change the standard? I'm screwed unless I buy some $50 adapter right? Look, I'm not saying there's a lot of people out there in my situation, but it is relevant to me to discuss these things.

 

[TallManNY]

I'm sure I will find this inconvenient when it happens. However I really should have long since bit the bullet and started buying only bluetooth headphones. Yes, they are vastly more expensive. But I bet if I did it once I'd never want to go back to untangling a cord before putting on my headphones. Folks should not think of this as a transition to lighting connected headphones but a switch to bluetooth. Apple won't do this, but the baller move would be to include bluetooth headphones as standard with purchase of iPhone. It would dig into their margins, but it would be really nice.

And of course those headphones would be charged by a lightning connector.

 

[ron7624]

Being hearing impaired, I use the earbuds - especially on important telephone calls. As long as they include something to let me continue to use ear buds, I'll be Okay with it.
However, it will piss me off to have to buy an adapter, but it wont stop me from upgrading to a new phone. I hate adapters. Having to drag around earbuds is bad enough.... Sigh.
I am very happy with my 6, but will probably upgrade in the fall.

 

[gorkt]

I would be okay with them supplying bluetooth earphones instead of a 3.5 mm jack, except that the bluetooth earphones I have used have a lag when watching video and so are unsuitable for that.

 

[Leonard1818]

I think a lot of people are missing the point.

Apple is not trying to replace 3.5mm with lightning. They are trying to replace it with Bluetooth.

If this is true (and it very well may be), then they'll absolutely have to use that extra space for more battery. I used to be able to leave BT enabled on my phone all the time and saw little battery use from doing so. These days, I have to leave it off because of the extra power it draws when on constantly. Adding the ability to toggle it on/off in the Control Center is, to me, almost admitting that it should be turned off when not in use. If it were NOT a battery drain, why not leave it buried in the settings and assumed to be on all the time.

Either way, I have a feeling if they make this change, it'll take some good planning to make it a good/seamless transition for users like myself.

 

[aarond12]

I'm surprised MacRumors didn't tag this post as "political or religious".

 

[chrisperson]

I don't like this decision if it is true. There are many times where I use the headphone jack and charge simultaneously.

 

[Mockenrue]

Amazing how many people don't like decent sound. Then again, in this day an age, I suppose it isn't surprising.

Some of us prefer both options. When I'm at home, I listen via lightning port -> CCK -> FiiO DAC -> Sennheiser over-the-ear headphones using Tidal HiFi streaming service. But when I travel to work on a loud rail train, I prefer to use wired earbuds via headphone jack rather than bluetooth earbuds (which I did try for a while). I like having the choice.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

My biggest concern with this is that Bluetooth headphones suck. It's difficult to get them to stay in my ear when running. I'd probably be ok with an included lightning headphone, because the only thing I personally use my headphones for is my iPhone, and I don't think I have ever once (in my 7.5 years of iPhones) charged it while using headphones simultaneously (and if I ever have/would, I would certainly prefer using Bluetooth headphones anyway).

Unless it comes with two lightning ports (and you can't short it out by plugging both ends of one lighting cable into both ports) this is not like the time they went from the 30 pin to lightning because now you can't listen to music and charge your phone at the same time which I think many do in the car via the aux cable.

Are you saying that you use headphones while in the car? That can be dangerous. Unless you're talking about older cars with no Bluetooth and no ability to send music through lightning. But those will be phased out, and Apple certainly isn't in the business to care about people with outdated technology

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Amazing how many people don't like decent sound. Then again, in this day an age, I suppose it isn't surprising.

I enjoy a good steak every once in a while, but hamburger is my mainstay. Not everyone sits in an acoustically neutral room listening to 96-bit audio recordings while drinking a $300 bottle of wine. But, apparently you do.

 

[fenderbass146]

They are replacing it with lighting connector........

So your saying it's going to have dual lightning connectors? I was under the impression it was removing the headphone jack so the only connectivity port would be a single lightning port which would be used for both headphones and charging.

 

[Tycho24]

Yes. Adapters get lost too easily. The adapter will have to be nearly 1" inch in length. It's a unnecessary nuisance when you have company that can make devices that are 6.1.mm (iPod touch), 5.3mm (iPod nano) thick and still have a 3.5mm jack. The iPhone 6s family are 7.1 and 7.3mm thick.



Why needlessly annoy your clients? I can't use Apple ear buds, they don't fit and sound terrible. I use ear buds a LOT so yes, this will be a nuisance.

The only reason I can think of why they would feel this is necessary-

They need the internal space. Either for adding a new component or re-configuring the internal layout to cram a bigger battery in the phones.

Well...
I honestly hope we don't lose you as a fellow iPhone user over this "annoyance".
I also refuse to use the garbage headphones Apple supplies, but.... the cable on my set of Sennheisers is 4.5' I believe, I'm sure yours is in the 3'-6' range as well. Is having a 1" adapter PERMANENTLY living plugged into the end something you'd even vaguely be aware of?? I know it's not for me!
I didn't mean to be condescending btw; I guess I was just trying to place this whole thing back where it belongs (that would be in the "not a big deal in the slightest" box).
It is my genuine opinion that anyone that can seriously get "pissed" over having a 1" adapter between their top class mobile device & their (presumably) high end headphones & can let that negatively affect them so much... must either be the most angry person I've ever met, or live the most charmed life that I can imagine that this one, incredibly minor, "issue" would have the ability to destroy their day or whatever.

 

[Jsameds]

You really live in an Apple world then. Since the Lightning connector is non-existent in any non-Apple product, is every headphone / earbud manufacturer supposed to create two products--one for Apple users and one for everyone else? It's fine to change the standard (after 40 years)...but change to one available to every manufacturer/consumer.

Blue. Tooth.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Well...
I honestly hope we don't lose you as a fellow iPhone user over this "annoyance".
I also refuse to use the garbage headphones Apple supplies, but.... the cable on my set of Sennheisers is 4.5' I believe, I'm sure yours is in the 3'-6' range as well. Is having a 1" adapter PERMANENTLY living plugged into the end something you'd even vaguely be aware of?? I know it's not for me!
I didn't mean to be condescending btw; I guess I was just trying to place this whole thing back where it belongs (that would be in the "not a big deal in the slightest" box).
It is my genuine opinion that anyone that can seriously get "pissed" over having a 1" adapter between their top class mobile device & their (presumably) high end headphones & can let that negatively affect them so much... must either be the most angry person I've ever met, or live the most charmed life that I can imagine that this one, incredibly minor, "issue" would have the ability to destroy their day or whatever.

The best thing Apple could do for an adapter would be to have a tiny "stub" that sticks out of the phone, then a few inches of very thin cable with a female jack on the end. The worst thing they could do is make a rigid adapter as long as the actual jack is, sticking out the bottom of the iPhone.

 

[fenderbass146]

My biggest concern with this is that Bluetooth headphones suck. It's difficult to get them to stay in my ear when running. I'd probably be ok with an included lightning headphone, because the only thing I personally use my headphones for is my iPhone, and I don't think I have ever once (in my 7.5 years of iPhones) charged it while using headphones simultaneously (and if I ever have/would, I would certainly prefer using Bluetooth headphones anyway).



Are you saying that you use headphones while in the car? That can be dangerous. Unless you're talking about older cars with no Bluetooth and no ability to send music through lightning. But those will be phased out, and Apple certainly isn't in the business to care about people with outdated technology

I have a 2010 Focus....not exactly old and it has no Bluetooth or USB..(It's also not the base model, one step up). On long road trips I very frequently have my headphone jacked plugged into the aux port and the charging cable so it doesn't die in an hour due to gps usage. I'm willing to bet 50% of people cars still don't have bluetooth. If they include two lightning ports I could deal with it, but if they just completely remove it and only have one lightning jack I will be upset. Hopefully someone will come out with a dual lightning aux cable.

 

[Yaboze]

If they supply wired Apple Earbuds, but with the lightning connector PLUS an adapter, I'm game.

They need to supply an adapter, there are millions of 3.5mm headphones out there.

 

[kemal]

So the quality of the D/A (built into the headphones) or lack thereof will be a factor in choosing headphones. Fine. Another marketing point.