Would no headphone jack force you to move away from the iphone?

[macduke]

Eh…it's 2016. Time to move on! I just think Apple better have a good solution ready. I don't mind using an adapter if I have to, but some decent bluetooth EarPods would be nice. I also hope they release a high-end pair that sounds better. I'm no audiophile, but use a step-up pair of Sony XBA-C10IP that work well and do a good job at isolating outside noise. I'd just leave the adapter attached to it. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I am getting a little tired of the Apple views of "we know what's best", but on the other hand I am still mostly happy with the iPhone & iPad (I am however just about ready to ditch my iMac and build my own PC)

Depending on what they end up doing if they remove the headphone jack, I would probably just get an iPhone 6s+ when they discount it and keep it as long as possible

"We know what's best" is the essence of product design (and I don't just mean Jony Ive-style design). It doesn't matter whether we're talking software or hardware, or something as seemingly trivial as a screwdriver handle. When a company makes a decision, it's gambling on making the right decision. If there weren't decisions to be made, every product would be identical. The customers then vote with their feet. If Apple is guilty of anything, it's guilty of making bolder decisions than some others.

Customers are not product designers. They choose the products that fit their needs. There's little point of dreaming of a perfect device - you may wait a long time until someone produces such a device, or it may never be made at all. All you can do is choose among the available products. There's truth to the saying that the customer doesn't know what he wants until he sees it - that's the only way new capabilities and features can be evaluated.

There's also truth to the old saying, "A camel is a horse designed by committee."

 

[cableguy84]

I dont give a **** about the headphone jack

 

[Number-Six]

"We know what's best" is the essence of product design (and I don't just mean Jony Ive-style design). It doesn't matter whether we're talking software or hardware, or something as seemingly trivial as a screwdriver handle. When a company makes a decision, it's gambling on making the right decision. If there weren't decisions to be made, every product would be identical. The customers then vote with their feet. If Apple is guilty of anything, it's guilty of making bolder decisions than some others.

Customers are not product designers. They choose the products that fit their needs. There's little point of dreaming of a perfect device - you may wait a long time until someone produces such a device, or it may never be made at all. All you can do is choose among the available products. There's truth to the saying that the customer doesn't know what he wants until he sees it - that's the only way new capabilities and features can be evaluated.

There's also truth to the old saying, "A camel is a horse designed by committee."

I absolutely agree with the theory, but in practice what has been happening for a while isn't so much "this crazy design is so what they will want" but instead it's "how much can we remove while keeping the same price?", which is how you end up with an iMac without an optical drive and soldered-on RAM. But hey, the edges are so thin you could cut stuff with it I guess.

I'm not necessarily criticizing their decisions, it's their company and they can choose the direction they want. But I am recognizing that it probably isn't in a direction I want to follow.

 

[Shamgar]

you wouldn't leave the adapter attached to the phone, just the headphones, right?

That wouldn't help. My iPhone is not the only thing I use my headphones with, nor do I only use one set of headphones. The adapter is something I would have to keep handy somehow, but I wouldn't want it always hanging on my phone or my headphones.

 

[Newtons Apple]

It's an interesting business decision because people will not flock to iPhone because no headphone jack exist but some people will leave iPhone because of the jack. It's different with the portless MacBook because they have other products with ports. We'll see how Apple decides to handle this.

In the past Apple has pretty well done what it thought was best and there will always be a "churn rate" and people will come and go. I doubt from this poll that Apple world will hurt even a little bit. I can still remember the threads about leaving Apple if they made a phone with a screen larger than 4"!

 

[jasie02]

Did no dvd drive force people stop buying Macbook air/pro?
No.

No 3.5mm in premier smartphone will be a none issue 1-2 years after removed, except for people like to live in the past, not looking forward to future.

 

[lagwagon]

Eh…it's 2016. Time to move on! I just think Apple better have a good solution ready. I don't mind using an adapter if I have to, but some decent bluetooth EarPods would be nice. I also hope they release a high-end pair that sounds better. I'm no audiophile, but use a step-up pair of Sony XBA-C10IP that work well and do a good job at isolating outside noise. I'd just leave the adapter attached to it. Shouldn't be a problem.

With Lightning it's possible to do noise cancelling through the chip or software and wouldn't necessarily be required to have it built into the headphones themselves.

 

[dennysanders]

That wouldn't help. My iPhone is not the only thing I use my headphones with, nor do I only use one set of headphones. The adapter is something I would have to keep handy somehow, but I wouldn't want it always hanging on my phone or my headphones.

what else do you use your headphones with?

 

[lordofthereef]

I feel like a broken record, but hey, the thread is here, so I will say it here too...

The next phone will have to wow me if I am forced to give up the 3.5mm. large part of that is just how good the 6s plus has been to me.

Some things that would make me consider it heavily:
Drastically reduced bezels (ie smaller footprint with same screen size)
Waterproofing
Wireless charging
Improved battery life

The bezels alone might be enough to sway me. I will need multiple of the following checkpoints to be interested though.

I am in the market for a media consumption device for my son that can bs use on our extra phone line (so it can;t be a tablet). The 5s will be a good contender too if it gets a steep price cut. If rumors for that are true and it goes down to $250, I'll be able to get that for about $10 a month (and reduce that by $7 on a cheap device trade in) so it would be something like $4-5 when all is said and done. Huge IF though with that price drop though.

 

[Shamgar]

what else do you use your headphones with?

iPads, macs, PCs, receivers, mixing consoles, in ear monitors, and probably some other occasional gadgets. I have different headphones that I select from depending on where I'm at, what I've packed, and what I'm doing. Similarly, I also use my iPhone as a source for things like mixing consoles, powered speakers, and other audio gear. There are some deficiencies to the phone jack design (audio quality not being one of them), but it is an industry standard.

There are workarounds for a missing 3.5mm jack, sure. I could buy more headphones for just my iPhone. I could get an adapter to keep in my bag (and a spare or two for when it gets lost), or just use another device as my audio source rather than grabbing what's always on my belt. But figuring out workarounds for the loss of key functionality on a $1000 device is not what makes me a happy customer.

 

[LotusLord]

Honestly, I seldom use headphones with my phone. I connect via BT in my car, but I do use the jack in my wife's car. I've got a BT adapter that plugs in to the 3.5 jack which has control buttons which I've used in the car and use in the gym. At least at this point it doesn't bother me much. We'll see how my mind changes over the next 7-10 months before the phone comes out/when I can upgrade.

 

[Max(IT)]

I will still buy an iPhone.... But I'm curious to know the reasons behind such a move.

 

[John Mcgregor]

I will still buy an iPhone.... But I'm curious to know the reasons behind such a move.

Headphone jack is the fattest connector left. That's it.

 

[Max(IT)]

Headphone jack is the fattest connector left. That's it.

I'm still not convinced about that...

 

[John Mcgregor]

I'm still not convinced about that...

Honestly i don't really care about it. Been using wireless headphones for years.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Headphone jack is the fattest connector left. That's it.

That's the story line, but there are other factors: cut component count, increase available interior space for functions like battery or stereo speaker, make a single connector serve for all I/O...

With each year, fewer people use wired headsets of any sort. Bluetooth, if not taking over, is gaining ground. My last car had a power-only USB port and a 3.5mm audio input, my current car has a USB input to the sound system. Between what they sell of third-party headsets online and at their retail stores, and the product mix they sell of Beats, Apple has a pretty good idea of where the trend is going.

 

[John Mcgregor]

That's the story line, but there are other factors: cut component count, increase available interior space for functions like battery or stereo speaker, make a single connector serve for all I/O...

With each year, fewer people use wired headsets of any sort. Bluetooth, if not taking over, is gaining ground. My last car had a power-only USB port and a 3.5mm audio input, my current car has a USB input to the sound system. Between what they sell of third-party headsets online and at their retail stores, and the product mix they sell of Beats, Apple has a pretty good idea of where the trend is going.

Good points. Knowing Ive could be anything. I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Mr Kram]

i am all in on apple products. we have a family of 4 so we pretty much are tied to the ecosystem. it would suck for me not to have a headphone jack, but i'm not jumping ship.

 

[Piggie]

Come on, let's be honest.

People rubbished Big phones, never going to buy one like that, stupid Samsung Phablets, and look what happened.
People are saying the same thing about the Headphone Jack.
Also they WERE saying it about SUPER AMOLED screens, junk, but now it looks like Apple may use one, the tide is turning.
Same if Apple makes a curved edge screen.

Seen this happen for so many years now

 

[Flow39]

While I'm not 100% okay with this, I will have to accept it if it happens. I really enjoy using the Apple ecosystem and the cohesive integration it provides between all of my devices, and I plan on sticking with it. No headphone jack will be an inconvenience but I'll just have to get used to it and use an adapter or buy Bluetooth headphones.

 

[Max(IT)]

Honestly i don't really care about it. Been using wireless headphones for years.

For me the included earbuds will suffice, plus an adapter for my sports headset (used for running). Sports headset will be ruined within a year nevertheless (it's their nature), so the next will be with a lightning connector.
Not a big deal for me

 

[mrex]

no, it doesnt force me to do anything, but it makes me not buying... i can live with my current phone, no need to replace it soon and when the time is there, i always choose the phone what is best for me - not the brand, os, name or shiny blingbling...

 

[lordofthereef]

For me the included earbuds will suffice, plus an adapter for my sports headset (used for running). Sports headset will be ruined within a year nevertheless (it's their nature), so the next will be with a lightning connector.
Not a big deal for me

This isn't a plug for a product sale, as I have no affiliation, but I used a products by a company called yurbuds. I've had the headphones for four years, I run St least four times a week but up to 12 depending on what my goals are, and have run them through the washer three times and the dryer once. The pause/play button noon get works but everything else functions just fine. Not super hi fidelity sound, but definitely sufficient for a run.

The product is so good that it is the reason I'm depressed for this move. I haven't found a good pair of . Bluetooth running buds and I have little faith in the longevity of an adapter.

 

[JD2015]

Judging by a lot of comments in general from the main thread in the news forum about now headphone jack being heavily rumored with Bluetooth earbuds/ adapter needed

Who here would be tempted to move away from the iPhone in the short term? Maybe get the s7/s7 edge maybe?

How is this rumour affecting your thought on if a change is needed?

Would have the opposite effect and fit it in more so with my needs as prefer not being tethered via wires.
Hope we are supplied with bluetooth ear buds though.