The two parts of the phone that are ultra reliable are the phone function and the audio through the headphones. Bluetooth, Wifi, and apps all have quirks and instabilities. Ever swap from wifi to cell while streaming? Even Wireless G to N on the fly? They can get this right yet. How about 200 subway passengers all trying to get their headphones in sync with their iPhones. Good luck. (Oh, and in regards to waterproofing the phone. Not likely unless they force the use of an external microphone and ear speaker). Maybe they'll add 3.5mm jacks to the I watch!?!
Murdoch - 9 years ago
I am actually looking forward to this change I tend to go back and forth between apple and android phones, this time around I went a Note 5 and I don't think I have ever plugged anything into my phone I use wireless charging and I use bluetooth headphones and speakers. But I can see this been a huge pain to all my friends family.
Dom Guitar - 9 years ago
Typical pathetic Apple contempt for its customers - forcing you to purchase expensive new Apple branded accessories by making out it will be "an amazing new tech move that will be so wonderful!". Isn't it convenient that they just happen to own (god awful) Beats headphones now? And shock horror, if you want something that isn't the terrible Apple earbuds you'll have to buy some Beats headphones! Who the hell needs a phone thinner than the current phone? They already bend and distort in your pocket!
Alex - 9 years ago
If they are making the iPhone 7 waterproof, they have to seal off every conceivable opening. Packaging bluetooth EarPod together with iPhone 7 is a good move to wean consumers off plugging anything through the phone's opening.
I suspect Apple may also introduce wireless charging plug lightning port off, only to be opened if necessary. ... this will seal the phone completely and makes it waterproof.
Danny - 9 years ago
The 3.5mm jack is used for much more than just EarPods.
Removing something I use everyday would not be enhancing my life and so I will not be buying an iPhone 7 if this is the case.
Christoph - 9 years ago
dropping the 3.5mm jack is ok if they drop lightning too, in favor of USB-C then there is a standard again everyone can use
Mac - 9 years ago
Terrible idea. I do not want to have to buy and keep up with yet another overpriced proprietary Apple adapter just to use my headphones. I'm already greatly disappointed in Apples unstable iOS updates and deprecated code which force developers to constantly rewrite code. Let's hope this is just another bad rumor.
Saul - 9 years ago
If that's true - bye, bye Apple.
Saul - 9 years ago
If that's true - bye, bye Apple.
Mike - 9 years ago
I want to stick with the Apple eco system but they making it harder and harder.
Dan - 9 years ago
I think its a bad idea to isolate your product and apple lately has made changes that make everyone change their lives to accommodate they're products. I'm a big apple user 10 different phones,ipods, ipads in the past. This is the last straw for me, i'll be moving to android after this 3.5 mm headphone debacle.
Luke - 9 years ago
I think this will be easy. Apple will need to put an adaptor, 3.5mm to Lightning, and include the 'AirPods' in place of the EarPods, if they do that this transition will prove to be easy and well worth it!! The headphones that are wired and goes with the Lightning port will actually have better sound quality!! I am actually looking forward to the iPhone 7!!
Susan - 9 years ago
I've never used headphones and I've had an iPhone since the beginning. Have used them occasionally on my iPad but not the phone.
Da John - 9 years ago
Fine. Want to cut the existing audiophile market off at the knees?! While nothing beats a pure digital domain (it's all about the DACs and speakers), as long as the circuitry has a good SNR rating, there's nothing wrong with the old 3.5mm with a good set of ear cans/buds.
I fully expect a Lighting-to-3.5mm adapter to hit the market. I will not just trash my exiting equipment.
carlos - 9 years ago
Does the phone have to be that thin? NO!!
Extremely bad choice. I have high quality headphones that would be useless.
You are still have to charge wireless phones.
I would not want to buy a phone without a 3.5mm ANALOG audio out.
Josh - 9 years ago
I think lightning cable just aren't durable enough. I have to get new charging cords for my iPhone 3 to 4 times a year.
Chris - 9 years ago
I only hope there is a 3.5 mm to Lighting adapter or else my Bose headphones will have been a costly mistake. Also my ability to charge and have headphones plugged in will be a problem. Charging cables with a 3.5 mm adapter??
The two parts of the phone that are ultra reliable are the phone function and the audio through the headphones. Bluetooth, Wifi, and apps all have quirks and instabilities. Ever swap from wifi to cell while streaming? Even Wireless G to N on the fly? They can get this right yet. How about 200 subway passengers all trying to get their headphones in sync with their iPhones. Good luck. (Oh, and in regards to waterproofing the phone. Not likely unless they force the use of an external microphone and ear speaker). Maybe they'll add 3.5mm jacks to the I watch!?!
I am actually looking forward to this change I tend to go back and forth between apple and android phones, this time around I went a Note 5 and I don't think I have ever plugged anything into my phone I use wireless charging and I use bluetooth headphones and speakers. But I can see this been a huge pain to all my friends family.
Typical pathetic Apple contempt for its customers - forcing you to purchase expensive new Apple branded accessories by making out it will be "an amazing new tech move that will be so wonderful!". Isn't it convenient that they just happen to own (god awful) Beats headphones now? And shock horror, if you want something that isn't the terrible Apple earbuds you'll have to buy some Beats headphones! Who the hell needs a phone thinner than the current phone? They already bend and distort in your pocket!
If they are making the iPhone 7 waterproof, they have to seal off every conceivable opening. Packaging bluetooth EarPod together with iPhone 7 is a good move to wean consumers off plugging anything through the phone's opening.
I suspect Apple may also introduce wireless charging plug lightning port off, only to be opened if necessary. ... this will seal the phone completely and makes it waterproof.
The 3.5mm jack is used for much more than just EarPods.
Removing something I use everyday would not be enhancing my life and so I will not be buying an iPhone 7 if this is the case.
dropping the 3.5mm jack is ok if they drop lightning too, in favor of USB-C then there is a standard again everyone can use
Terrible idea. I do not want to have to buy and keep up with yet another overpriced proprietary Apple adapter just to use my headphones. I'm already greatly disappointed in Apples unstable iOS updates and deprecated code which force developers to constantly rewrite code. Let's hope this is just another bad rumor.
If that's true - bye, bye Apple.
If that's true - bye, bye Apple.
I want to stick with the Apple eco system but they making it harder and harder.
I think its a bad idea to isolate your product and apple lately has made changes that make everyone change their lives to accommodate they're products. I'm a big apple user 10 different phones,ipods, ipads in the past. This is the last straw for me, i'll be moving to android after this 3.5 mm headphone debacle.
I think this will be easy. Apple will need to put an adaptor, 3.5mm to Lightning, and include the 'AirPods' in place of the EarPods, if they do that this transition will prove to be easy and well worth it!! The headphones that are wired and goes with the Lightning port will actually have better sound quality!! I am actually looking forward to the iPhone 7!!
I've never used headphones and I've had an iPhone since the beginning. Have used them occasionally on my iPad but not the phone.
Fine. Want to cut the existing audiophile market off at the knees?! While nothing beats a pure digital domain (it's all about the DACs and speakers), as long as the circuitry has a good SNR rating, there's nothing wrong with the old 3.5mm with a good set of ear cans/buds.
I fully expect a Lighting-to-3.5mm adapter to hit the market. I will not just trash my exiting equipment.
Does the phone have to be that thin? NO!!
Extremely bad choice. I have high quality headphones that would be useless.
You are still have to charge wireless phones.
I would not want to buy a phone without a 3.5mm ANALOG audio out.
I think lightning cable just aren't durable enough. I have to get new charging cords for my iPhone 3 to 4 times a year.
I only hope there is a 3.5 mm to Lighting adapter or else my Bose headphones will have been a costly mistake. Also my ability to charge and have headphones plugged in will be a problem. Charging cables with a 3.5 mm adapter??