Case photos suggest 'iPhone 7' will indeed ditch the headphone jack
Based on images of a case supposedly designed for Apple’s soon-to-be-released “iPhone7,” it indeed seems the forthcoming handset from Cupertino is going to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack, instead opting for a Lightning-based pair of EarPod earphones.
Based on images which might not be authentic
First released by OnLeakes (and shared by AppleInsider), the images show a clear case seemingly designed for the “iPhone 7,” Apple's next-generation handset that's due for launch in September this year. As you can see in the images (below), the case indicates that the handset will indeed feature no headphone jack, as expected.
Check out our original coverage here:
Instead, it looks like the case includes two spaces for speaker grills, which seem to be destined to appear at either side of the Lightning port on the forthcoming device. There's also room for a rear-facing camera (this, according to separate reports, could be a dual camera setup for enhanced photography and video capture). Take a look at the images below, and see for yourself.
Of course, there's no way for us to verify these images: it could be we're looking at the real deal, or, on the other hand, it could be we're dealing with something that isn't based on Apple's official designs.
Major implications for customers
Sure, the move will mean customers could have to update their hardware in order to connect their iPhone 7 to a set of wired speakers, or to wired headphones. But if recent reports have it right, Apple could release an adapter for its smartphone, in order to allow it to connect up to older 3.5mm jack hardware.
And at the end of the day, this kind of innovation is what Apple’s all about: removing the headphone jack from its iPhone line fits into a continuum that’s seen Apple banish the floppy drive, and then the CD drive, from its laptops; keyboards from smartphones; and USB drives from MacBooks. I own a new MacBook and the switch to USB-C makes perfect sense. But it nevertheless caused a fair amount of uproar when the move was first announced.
The removal of the headphone jack from Apple’s iPhone line therefore doesn’t bother me. Does it bother you?
