iPhone 7 headphone jack: why did Apple drop it?
Apple has now officially unveiled the iPhone 7, and despite all the petitions, complaints and furious customers, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have arrived without a headphone jack.
From bendgate to bugs, Apple is no stranger to criticism and controversy, but the iPhone 7 is proving to be one of the company’s most controversial handsets yet, all thanks to this one feature, or the absence of it.
But while the decision is undoubtedly a source of controversy, there must be a reason for it. Here’s why Apple decided to make this bold move.
Why is it gone?
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said the firm had been motivated by “courage” to get rid of the headphone jack.
Schiller said on stage: “Some people have asked us why we would remove the analogue headphone jack. It’s been with us a really long time and it comes down to one word: courage. Our team has tremendous courage.”
That’s just marketing speech – which has already become a joke on social media – but Schiller’s follow up offers more insight into why the iPhone 7 doesn’t have a headphone jack. He said, “our smartphones are packed with technologies, faster processors…and all of it fights for space.”
That extra space, although minimal, is being used to pack extra tech into the iPhone 7. That’s clear from the dimensions of the phone – the lack of a headphone jack hasn’t made the iPhone 7 thinner, it’s still 7.1mm like the iPhone 6S.
Instead, Apple is using the freed up space for extra technologies, likely focused on the A10 Fusion processor and battery cell.
Why maintain a space-taking single purpose analogue connector, which has been used in tech since 1964? You don’t, according to Apple, with the company instead looking towards a wireless future.
In the box headphones
You’ll get a pair of Lightning EarPods in the box of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. These are much the same as the EarPods you’ve had in the box with previous iPhones, but they’re designed for use with the Lightning port rather than a traditional 3.5mm jack.
That means if you’re reliant on headphones you won’t be able to listen to music on your phone and charge it at the same time.
Each phone will also ship with a Lightning to 3.5mm adaptor, so you can continue using your wired headphones with the handset. The adaptor doesn’t look great, it gives you an extra cable to carry around, and it’s going to be annoying when listening to music on the go.
Plus, if you lose it, Apple will charge you $9 (£9, AU$12) for a replacement.
Apple AirPods
Apple is also releasing wireless headphones for you to buy alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, called AirPods. The AirPods are much like Apple’s EarPods, but they’re wireless and connect via Bluetooth.
It may seem obvious, but you don’t need to buy the AirPods to use the iPhone 7. We have seen some people on Twitter assuming you need to buy the AirPods alongside the iPhone, but instead you could use the EarPods from the box or your own wireless/Lightning jack headphones.
Each of the Airpods has a touch sensitive back, so you can tap on the headphone to activate Siri and answer calls using the built-in microphone.
You’ll be keeping them in a small wireless charging case that Apple supplies, and once you flip the lid open your phone will recognize that the headphones are ready to use.
That sounds pretty seamless, but the AirPods aren’t cheap, costing $159 (£159, AU$229) and they also look rather easy to lose if not stored in the charging case. Not to mention the fact that they only offer around five hours of life on a single charge.
Still, no-one said the future would be hassle-free, and if Apple makes good use of the extra space in its phones the port removal could one day be worth it.
Source: techradar.com
Top Brands
USB-C is not a standard yet, and Apple is not "staying way" from it.
It's not just about the sound. Other stuff goes through that port. Low-level programmers will be glad to have only one port that does all. And why don't you check what Apple does with the extra space? What I usually read is that battery life is more important to most people. Maybe you have another approach. A non-cynical one, if possible.
What is wrong with a specific need? You must not travel. I do, a lot. The fact you are asking 'where is the power source' means you have never been to an airport before.
Netflix on a phone. In an airport. Jesus Christ. Very specific need. Where's the power source in that specific case?
Or switch to Android, which is what I will be doing. I do keep my phone plugged in while watching Netflix in an airport or wherever I happen to be. Phone batteries are too awful to rely on them.
It's not just about signal propagation. This connector serves to transmit digital data as well. And digital data demands more reliability and error checking.
It's something you do while the transition smooths out. Just like any other cable that converts a signal to another.
Kyle, you are not an engineer. The new connector is not just for audio. Your individual experience with an iPad is not representative of all iPads usage. Same for your listening to audio while charging. I'm sure we got something in return in the space left by the audio connector. Engineers at Apple know. You are egocentric. Only your opinion counts.
When they try to put USB everywhere even in devices that should have it, noone bats an eye. But now, Apple does it and BOOM! People crap their pants. And what is that obsession over being able to charge while listening? It's not like the battery will die in the meantime.
What are the real reasons, then?
Why do you care? You won't buy the iPhone 7.
That's a whole other issue: this adds another mechanism for imposing DRM. I doubt it happens, but changing from analog to digital transmission allows for it much more easily
You seem to be deeply traumatized by the adapter.
And you are what we call "cynical".
The direction of technology isn't solely decided by the inventor of it. People have valid criticisms and concerns of this change.
There have been plenty of dead end technologies that some believed to be better than the old technologies. People will decide with their wallet, and there is nothing you or anyone else can do to change that.
these headphones look like earrings hahahahahaha
Or simply not as cynic as you are.
But if you have headphones with the Lightning connector, is it okay or is there still a problem with power or convertion or something else?
You are not an engineer at Apple, so you don't really know. And you are cynic, so your opinion is seriously polluted.
So when will the audio jack be replaced? Someone has to make the first step, no?
You seem to make a lot of excuses for corporate greed.
Stop whining. Technology goes forward. You use an adapter until the transition phase has passed.
….literally every chair at an airport has an outlet
If you listen to 18 hours of music straight, you are not in the majority of customers whatsoever, Apple or not.
Phone batteries are actually pretty impressive technology wise. But you're right, they are not up to the task of being relied upon.