Apple reportedly to ditch headphone jack for wireless listening on iPhone 7

[Cupe]

 

The iPhone rumor mill is buzzing with reports that Apple will be nixing the standard 3.5mm headphone jack for their next product. The iPhone 7 will supposedly rely on wireless connections in order to accommodate a thinner model that has more internal space for new features.

 

The 3.5mm jack has been around for hundreds of years, though headphones with Lightning ports have recently surfaced, but with a heftier price tag. If the reports are true, Apple is making a bold, and perhaps risky move by ditching headphone compatibility for the iPhone 7.
 

Before Christmas, the Apple community spurred a huge controversy as Macotakara claimed that the iPhone 7 will ditch the 3.5 mm standard headphone port completely, to enable further thinness and internal space savings for other components. The 3.5mm jack is a hundred-year old technology based on analogue signals, so although it is ripe for replacement, almost all headphones sold today rely on the 3.5mm jack. Cutting the port for the iPhone 7 could be a painful transition. Today, the Chinese media has posted further news confirming the original story, claiming that Apple will drop the next-gen iPhone’s 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of wireless headphone standards and Lightning.

 

Chinese site Anzhou says that supply chain sources have confirmed the removal of the 3.5mm port on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and Apple will instead focus on wireless headphones to output sound. The site claims Apple will make wireless equivalent of Apple’s ‘EarPod’ headphones. Feng notes that Lightning headphones will be the wired alternative option, but Apple ‘expects’ most people to move to wireless particularly if Apple starts bundling wireless EarPods with the iPhone 7 as suggested.

 

It’s worth noting that Apple did make a wireless headset for the original iPhone, but it was a pricey optional add on. Today, the company produces all kinds of headphones (3.5mm, Lightning and wireless) through the Beats subsidiary. Although headphones with Lightning ports do exist on the market today, they are a niche market and often expensive, and it’s unclear if the ecosystem will be able to catch up in time for the iPhone 7 launch. Part of the reason the 3.5 mm port is ubiquitous because it is a cheap, simple port and an industry open standard. This is another concern if Apple preaches its proprietary Lightning connector as the new ‘wired’ alternative, which has licensing fees.

 

The iPhone 7 (or whatever it is actually called) is expected to be released in the fall with major external and internal changes, potentially including larger batteries and a 256 GB storage option. Do you think Apple should abandon the 3.5 mm jack? It’s been a few weeks since the initial rumor so we are interested in hearing your follow-up feelings in the poll and comments section.

[OxyKon]

i think this is apple digging them selves a little lower into the grave, they've already lost millions upon millions of dollars towards the end of last year,  this could be their undoing i think

[Cupe]

wat

 

Apple posted quarterly revenue (for Q4 last year) of $51.5 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.1 billion. This compares to revenue of $49.6 billion and profit of $10.7 billion last quarter, and $42.123 billion in revenue in the year ago quarter.

 

And changing an input again (in this case the jack) means every single person that gets one now has to buy new headphones.

 

Just like how the did with the charger input that rendered every charger and dock useless.

[Narukami]

Not sure what to make of this.

 

On one hand, there's always been lots of dumb rumours made about Apple products that are either untrue or just not as bad as people say. On the other hand, Apple did get rid of CD drives on newer Mac models because they deemed irrelevant (which is a pain in the ass if you collect CDs).

 

Time will tell. If they do end up doing this, they'll probably compromise and make like a lightning port peripheral that has a 3.5mm port converter thing.

[eggssell]

i think its true

and i think it wont be an issue

apple has enough market dominance to change the game. 

 

they made their laptops with one usb port and everyone said they wouldnt sell. not onky did they continue to sell, it revitalised the usb hub industry. 

 

eventually the sheep will all move to lightning even at high prices. 

 

as for me.... baa baaa

 

 nah this iphone 5 will likely be my last apple. the new ones are too big. mine is literally an ipod with messenger facilities

im thinking of going the pioneer mp3 player 

[LabRat]

I think this is ok. At some point we're all gonna switch to wireless headphones to a certain extent. It's a lot of fuss for nothing really. A simple solution could be apple providing wireless earphones with their phones. They don't have to (the don't have to give the ones now really) but I'm sure that would shut everyone up

[Scottie]

they'll just sell a $50 lightning to 3.5mm adapter