Apple rumored to ditch headphone jack on 'iPhone 7' for Lightning connector audio
Apple's next-generation iPhone design is so thin that engineers are mulling the removal of the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, meaning users might have to invest in Lightning or Bluetooth-connected headphones, according to a rumor on Friday.
Citing sources familiar with Apple's plans, Mac Otakara reports next year's iPhone, tentatively dubbed "iPhone 7," will come sans headphone jack to accommodate a form factor that supposedly shaves more than 1mm off current iPhone thickness. The change is perhaps inevitable, as the existing 3.5mm industry standard jack module is already a tight fit in Apple's iOS hardware.
As part of the transition to Lightning, Apple will reportedly outfit its gratis EarPods headset with a digital-to-analog converter integrated into its plug. Third-party manufacturers might be forced to follow suit or create a Lightning-to-analog adapter if one is not provided by Apple.
Apple hinted at a potential move to Lightning-enabled headphone accessories at a "Designing Accessories for iOS and OS X" session at WWDC last year.
Apple's solution breaks out analog audio from iPhone's full digital signal, offering increased bandwidth and access to system controls. In addition, the Lightning standard can supply power to advanced headphone models, obviating the need for bulky battery packs. At the time, Apple said it was working on low-profile connector modules for manufacturers looking to build in hardware support.
Some companies are already taking advantage of Lightning audio, including Philips and JBL, which debuted new Lightning-compatible models at CES earlier this year. Philips was first to market in 2014 with its Fidelo M2L, a high-end headphone featuring onboard amplification and a 24-bit DAC.
A comparison of the relative thickness of the headphone and Lightning jacks on an iPhone 5s. | Source: iFixit
Apple has been investigating 3.5mm jack alternatives for some time, likely knowing the component would one day be a limiting factor in its increasingly thin device designs. A patent published in September, for example, outlined a tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) plug and receptacle that cut down on excess material by employing a D-shaped connector.
Citing sources familiar with Apple's plans, Mac Otakara reports next year's iPhone, tentatively dubbed "iPhone 7," will come sans headphone jack to accommodate a form factor that supposedly shaves more than 1mm off current iPhone thickness. The change is perhaps inevitable, as the existing 3.5mm industry standard jack module is already a tight fit in Apple's iOS hardware.
As part of the transition to Lightning, Apple will reportedly outfit its gratis EarPods headset with a digital-to-analog converter integrated into its plug. Third-party manufacturers might be forced to follow suit or create a Lightning-to-analog adapter if one is not provided by Apple.
Apple hinted at a potential move to Lightning-enabled headphone accessories at a "Designing Accessories for iOS and OS X" session at WWDC last year.
Apple's solution breaks out analog audio from iPhone's full digital signal, offering increased bandwidth and access to system controls. In addition, the Lightning standard can supply power to advanced headphone models, obviating the need for bulky battery packs. At the time, Apple said it was working on low-profile connector modules for manufacturers looking to build in hardware support.
Some companies are already taking advantage of Lightning audio, including Philips and JBL, which debuted new Lightning-compatible models at CES earlier this year. Philips was first to market in 2014 with its Fidelo M2L, a high-end headphone featuring onboard amplification and a 24-bit DAC.
A comparison of the relative thickness of the headphone and Lightning jacks on an iPhone 5s. | Source: iFixit
Apple has been investigating 3.5mm jack alternatives for some time, likely knowing the component would one day be a limiting factor in its increasingly thin device designs. A patent published in September, for example, outlined a tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) plug and receptacle that cut down on excess material by employing a D-shaped connector.
Comments
iPhones, however, are already way too thin. We have long passed the threshold by which making the devices thinner is providing any real utility. All they are doing is making them more difficult to hold on to.
As for sound quality, they could improve the A/D converter within the iPhone. Digital sound, especially MP3's, is already so compromised that moving to digital output could not make is better.
- a "D"-shaped connector is stupid. It's just breakage waiting to happen. And this is one of the reasons that I prefer 90-degree headphone jacks to straight ones.
- a thinner phone is no better. It's already slimmer than my wallet
Breaking compatibility with everyone's existing headphones is a terrible idea. I will never, ever buy an iPhone 7 if they do this.
Sometimes their "thinness" concept gives the impression that it is the "thinness of their thinking".
Use the space to add more battery and make everyone, except a few anal Apple engineers, happy
I have mixed feelings about a Lightning connection for headphones. I'm not sure that you can buy such things yet, though that could change by next year's iPhone update, but the choice (and cost) is not likely to be as attractive as 3.5mm jack for a while. On the other hand, the current 'remote' interface would be much improved by digital communication across Lightning and sound could conceivably improve by staying digital on the cable right up to the earpieces.
Lightning won't become an industry standard because it's proprietary to Apple, but perhaps this would jumpstart the Bluetooth headset market. Hopefully Apple can use the freed-up space to reduce the bezel size.
Thinness isn't the bad thing. Apple should just spend a little engineering effort on finding something grippy that helps us hang on to the slippery suckers.
That said, I'd prefer more battery life over thinness at this point.
Shrink the bezel while you're at it, Apple. Both on the phones and the iMac.
1. You just bought them and
2. Those same $1,000 headphones are gong to go "lightning" anytime soon....
...now maybe those of you who gave us grief over dumping the optical port on the new Apple TV can see how we feel about our perfectly functioning surround sound systems who now have to buy a clunky adapter or buy a Bluetooth surround sound - for no reason - other than Apple decided not to include an audio out port.
It's a pain in the butt huh? Yet you guys thought we were a bunch of "whining" (I believe the word you guys used describing our complaint). Now everyone with killer $1,000 headphones who don't want to buy or use an ugly adapter plugged in to use them on a "i-devce" - now you guys can get I the "whine line" behind us. Lol
There actually was a reason for removing S/PDIF from the ATV4, and it was Apple Music. Optical has no DRM, HDMI does.