Supply Chain Rumors Reaffirm iPhone 7 Will Not Have Headphone Jack

[mkldev]

The truth is nobody needs a headphone jack anymore.

Tell you what. Try flying in an airplane with those wireless headphones. What's that? You can't use them? Oops. I guess most people do still need headphone jacks.

And if you're going to have to have an adapter and wired headphones for that, are you really going to carry a separate wireless pair for the rest of the time? Probably not.

So now, when your headphones get snagged on something while lifting your luggage to the overhead bin, instead of tugging on a robust 1/8" plug, you'll be tugging on the much-more-fragile Lightning plug, potentially damaging not just the adapter, but also your ability to charge your cell phone.

The headphone jack is the single most abused connector on electronics products. Lightning just isn't up to the challenge of replacing it. It isn't even close.

 

[Mac 128]

I am interested to hear how Apple justifies this.

The 6S actually got larger in order to squeeze in additional features. Now even if they keep the 7 at the exact same thickness as the 6S, they are going to be hard pressed for space inside the phone to add additional features. The 3.5mm audio jack takes up ~184 cubic mm of space. That's a huge amount of volume inside a device that is severely space constricted. And it's a given Apple won't make the phones bigger. Some Android phones are already slimmer and smaller than the iPhone.

So Apple will justify this as more features, better audio, and better battery life in the same size, or smaller package. Not only that, but this move will encourage developers to do a lot more with Lightning audio than they have previously, which will be a very good thing for everyone in the end.

 

[sracer]

(to no one in particular) It's important to remember that this is only a rumor so no need to blow out your o-ring or drop a lung at this point in time.

If the rumor turns out to be true, it'll be a masterful move by Apple depending upon what they do as a replacement for the 3.5mm jack.

 

[dec.]

(to no one in particular) It's important to remember that this is only a rumor so no need to blow out your o-ring or drop a lung at this point in time.

If the rumor turns out to be true, it'll be a masterful move by Apple depending upon what they do as a replacement for the 3.5mm jack.

I agree. If it happens, I'm looking forward to see what solution Apple will come up with. It's simply interesting from a technological point of view. If the solution works for me - good, if not, good too, there are other products out there (as long as the competition doesn't decide to do something similar).

 

[fourthtunz]

I know people are going to be angry about this... But like it or not, this has to happen sooner or later, and there is never really going to be a better time than now - waiting won't make it any easier. The 3.5mm jack takes up a significant amount of space, and on a small device, that space matters. Keeping the headphone jack is just delaying the inevitable.

This reminds me of when people were slamming Apple for not adding Blu-Ray to Mac. Steve asserted that streaming was the future, and look now... who really wants a blu-ray drive? Yes, it sucked for a couple of years while we transition to newer technology, but there's not way around that. The headphone issue is really the same philosophy - simpler products, wireless when possible. I have no doubt that after couple of years (which may include some transition pains), people will fully support moving on from the legacy 3.5mm jack.

How many lightning headphones do you have around the house?
Let someone else make the transition! I like the analog headphone because I've got plenty of them if I misplace them and do not like having the phone next to my head to talk. Be interesting to see how this works out for apple.

 

[Luis Mazza]

Headphones really mean more to you than everything else that's kept you with iPhone so far?

No. Those are actually the excuses from Apple that accumulate on being irrelevant, irritating and expensive to deal with. Bluetooth headphones are crap, even more Beats branded phones and the included Apple earbuds. Low quality crap with 200 bucks price tags they can't even endure 2 months of workouts... Just look at the customer reviews.

 

[4jasontv]

Bluetooth actually works very nicely for calls, for me.

Apple removing the headphone jack will push people to make better headphones.

Right now there are barely any affordable options.

What model devices are you using that doesn't make you sound different then without a headset? (I don't care how the other person sounds if they have *any* issues hearing me.)

 

[Mr. Dee]

Since I bought my new iPhone 6s I have not used the ear buds or any other headphone jacks with it. So to be honest, its not much of a big deal. The speakers on the iPhone are so loud already.

 

[medazinol]

RIP:

ADB - 1997
SCSI - 1998
FIREWIRE - 2011
DVI - 2010
Floppy Disk - 1998
optical drives - 2013
3.5MM headphone jack - 2016

We will survive!!!

 

[Risco]

EarPods are the crappiest, most ill fitting earphones I have ever had. I even got some skins and the damn things are forever falling out. Got some rather excellent Sony EX650 and will be pretty annoyed if I am expected to buy an adapter...

 

[XTheLancerX]

Okay I don't really care about having to switch to lightning headphones for my iPhone, but I do care that I have to use headphones that won't work with whatever other device I'm trying to use. I frequently will take headphones I'm using with my iPhone, unplug them, and plug them into my Windows PC. Losing that will be annoying.

I'll have to keep track of "Oh these are my iPhone headphones, and these are my computer headphones. Oh and these are my old iPad headphones. If I take this pair I can use them with my iPad and maybe someone else's phone if they want to show me something, but I can't use them with my iPhone. I can use these with my iPhone but not with anybody else."

I just want to bring headphones and be done with it. Oh and what about charging while using headphones?

I'm all for change and progression into new technologies but it can't be this.. Rigid. Charging cables have been Apple exclusive for the longest time and that's been hard enough, so the transition to a new, still proprietary, Apple cable wasn't that bad. But Apple exclusive headphones which were previously completely interchangeable with other devices? That's more of a pain.

Hopefully the adapter is just a cable that splits into two ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and another lightning cable. I don't want a rigid extension of the phone, rather an extended cable. That's just asking for a broken lightning port.

One thing that makes me hopeful, is what if Apple uses the extra space to make a second audio driver on the bottom and possibly two more on the top like iPad pro? I think just an empty space there on the bottom instead of a headphone jack will look kind of strange but I'm probably overthinking it.

---

Sorry just spouting all the weird thoughts I have about this.

 

[Vicrooloo]

I'm all for removing the headphone jack but I don't think now is the right time. The Lightning port came with increased speed and a neato reversible plug. I can't think of any benefit from moving the headphone jack into the Lightning port, especially since headphones over Lightning are very rare and specialized.

Also, with USB C gaining slow traction I don't want to have to get USB C to Lightning adapters...

 

[ppenn]

As long as there is a reasonably priced Lighting to 3.5mm cable i'm fine. Need that auxiliary access for the car.

 

[gaximus]

The answer to the 3.5mm Jack is NOT a proprietary port. In fact there are no downsides the headphone jack. Many phones and devices have managed to be far thinner than an phone, so that excuse is just a bull**** sorry excuse.

Its not necessarily the thickness of the jack, but the length. I'll take better battery life and no headphone jack, or less bezel.

 

[medazinol]

EarPods are the crappiest, most ill fitting earphones I have ever had. I even got some skins and the damn things are forever falling out. Got some rather excellent Sony EX650 and will be pretty annoyed if I am expected to buy an adapter...

Agreed. Apple generally has some of worst accessories out there but then again, I had an LG 3 Flex phone that didn't even come with headphones so even the others scrimp in different ways...

 

[szw-mapple fan]

This comparison is different. Apple would be replacing something non-proprietary with something proprietary. As in you will have to pay Apple for your adapter one way or another.

The lightning connector is I think a temporary fix. Apple is smart enough to know most people won't go for lightning only accessories. They are ultimately pushing for wireless bluetooth headsets with the removal of the 3.5mm jack.

 

[Flow39]

I'm hoping the wireless headphones might also ship with Apple Watch 2.

Leave me alone, a man can dream!
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Is a headphone jack really worth more than everything else that has, so far, kept you using iPhone over the competition?

No, but it is annoying when all of my headphones won't work with a new phone. I don't want to have to carry an adapter around with me just to use my old headphones. Just one more thing to lose or break, and then have to shell out another $20 so Apple can keep their 80% profit margins. Without the headphone jack, it's just one more reason to use Android honestly. I'm already enjoying the Nexus phones as much as I enjoyed the iPhones in the past, and if Apple ditches the jack, it's now one less reason to continue upgrading iPhones.

I will say one thing though: this is still early in the rumor cycle, so if this isn't true, I'll be on board with buying it. Analysts are wrong often, as shown by previous years. If this rumor is correct though, I won't.
[doublepost=1452017248][/doublepost]

Don't.

Alrighty, will do. Have a phenomenal day bud
[doublepost=1452017360][/doublepost]

You know you will and you will adapt to whatever configuration it comes in , headphones and all!

Lol I sure hope I don't get trapped in the hype machine

 

[Tycho24]

How many lightning headphones do you have around the house?
Let someone else make the transition! I like the analog headphone because I've got plenty of them if I misplace them and do not like having the phone next to my head to talk. Be interesting to see how this works out for apple.

Well... you're obviously the exception, not the rule. Most people have one main set of headphones they use, so one adapter will be fine.
Sounds like in your case, you'd need several. I hope they're only like $10.

 

[ocabj]

So what I've gathered from this thread is that change is bad.

 

[thisismyusername]

Remember when everyone complained about the Lightning Connector? Now everyone loves it.

I never loved it and still don't. I'd much rather have a connector that's not proprietary and is compatible with other devices. There's no reason why Apple, Android, Microsoft, etc all can't use the same connector.

I'm sure no one will miss the 3.5mm headphone jack in 2-3 years.

I will. I'm pretty sure that even 10 years from now I'll still prefer wired headphones and that they'll still come with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Now, Apple has yet another reason to nickel-and-dime their customers by having them either buy new, wireless headphones or a $20+ adapter (the latter of which people will undoubtedly loose and have to buy multiple times).

 

[Dydegu]

If the headphone jack is preventing Apple from creating the best phone possible, then I'm all for this.

They stripped tons of ports from the rMB and forced users to purchase a dongle. But look at the upsides... they delivered a beautiful machine. People adapted.

If they do this, including the adapter with the new purchase would be smart, especially with the Beats connection. You could also say that would pass along an unnecessary cost to those who are just fine with the EarPods that come with the phone, but I think almost everyone has several pairs of headphones lying around.

 

[gaximus]

What functional purpose is there to remove the headphone jack? Surely not to make the phone thinner!

Is this just to sell BlueTooth Beats headphones?! Or just change for changes sake?

If it turns out to be true, it will be the first generation iPhone that I won't be upgrading to, after owning them all so far. I like my new BOSE Noise Cancelling headphones too much to give them up.

So you had the first iPhone, remember how it only worked with the headphones that it came with? or manufactures had to make the jack thinner to work with the iPhone. This is pretty much the same thing.

 

[jazz1]

If anyone wants a 3.5mm jack, I am sure Apple will be happy to sell us an adapter (an iJack) for $49.99.

You mean Hijack$$$

 

[Michael Goff]

So you had the first iPhone, remember how it only worked with the headphones that it came with? or manufactures had to make the jack thinner to work with the iPhone. This is pretty much the same thing.

But just earlier somebody was saying Steve Jobs would never do this ...

 

[FelixDerKater]

But isn't larger phones the reason they have to make it thinner?

I.e. To reduce weight. My hands still get kinda sore after holding the 6 plus for long periods of time.

No matter how thin you make it, the other dimensions will continue to make it painful for some to hold.

A thick rubber case seems to do more for ease of holding than thinness...

Maybe someone will make a handle like a coffee cup to affix to the back of it.