More Evidence Suggests Apple’s iPhone 7 Will Forgo the 3.5mm Audio Jack

Intel Openly Declares Apple Made a Mistake Choosing Lightning for iPhone 7's Audio Playback
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Many people have been angered at reports that Apple’s newest iPhone will not feature the 3.5mm audio port that is compatible with most wired earphones. The revelation prompted many to ask what Apple would do to replace the port and whether the company would begin bundling new, iPhone 7 compatible EarPods with shipments of the iPhone 7.

We now know that Apple may be replacing the classic audio jacks with 8-pin Lightning Ports, if the latest leak is credible. An unnamed source leaked photos of what appear to be Apple’s newest model of EarPods on the Chinese social platform Weibo. The earphones look identical to older models except that they feature a Lightning connector on one end, rather than the classic cylindrical audio connector. Otherwise, the ear inserts, mic, and volume adjusting buttons look identical to current EarPods.

earpod - weibo.com

The newer connector seems to be encased in a robust-looking plastic cover that is hopefully sturdier than existing Lightning cables. As iPhone Hacks notes, older Lightning connectors attracted criticism for poor workmanship and fraying easily. While Apple is known for pursuing its trademark sleek and minimalist aesthetic, if the new pictures are correct, the company has acceded to complaints in designing its new earphones.

The end piece may also be thicker because it houses a Digital-to-Analog (DAC) converter which converts digital bits to music, providing a stronger foundation for high-quality audio.

As of now, it appears that these new-fangled EarPods will only be compatible with the iPhone 7. It remains to be seen whether the next generation of Macs will feature female Lightning ports that will work with the new earphones.

That would also mean that Apple users would have to purchase new components to use their Lightning connector EarPods on all non-Apple devices. For instance, they may purchase female-female adaptors that render the headphones compatible with USB ports.

It may also make for inconvenient charging experiences, as some people like to listen to their iPhones while they are plugged in and using their Lightning ports to charge. Another possibility is that Apple will ship Lightning-to-3.5mm audio jack converters along with their new iPhones to allow people to use classic earphones with them. Users may even take to using Bluetooth wireless earphones, although they are generally more expensive, difficult to charge, and suffer from an audio quality that is generally weaker.

As the above suggests, many questions abound as to how exactly Apple plans to debug user experiences and smooth over any snafus arising from the new EarPods. Aside from this, the iPhone7 will reportedly feature new camera components and updates to its antenna.

Readers should also take note that the newest Chinese leak has yet to be substantiated.

Will you miss the traditional headphone jack? Let us know in the comments below. 

Featured Photo Tedoradze

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]

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