First video of functional Lightning EarPods hits the web
Fanning the flames of rumors claiming Apple plans to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from its next-generation iPhone, a video posted to YouTube on Friday shows off what appears to be a pair of functional Lightning-only EarPods leaked from Chinese parts suppliers.

Like other recent parts leaks, including fresh photos published today, the headphones featured in EverythingApplesPro's video look identical to current EarPods iterations. Instead of terminating in the usual 3.5mm TRRS plug, however, this new version sports Apple's proprietary Lightning connector.
In the minute-long showcase, an unseen narrator is seen plugging the supposed future EarPods model into an iPhone running some flavor of iOS 9. He plays a music track from YouTube and proceeds to demonstrate that the multi-function remote control is operable, in this case managing pause/play and volume settings. The remote's microphone was not tested.
While the video bears the title "iPhone 7 EarPods," it offers no evidence to support claims that Apple will in fact bundle the headphones with an upcoming iPhone model. Indeed, aside from a design shared with current EarPods, the short clip contains no clues suggesting the device is a legitimate Apple product.
That being said, Apple is widely expected to debut a next-generation iPhone with updated internals this fall, the most contentious change being a switch away from the ubiquitous 3.5mm headphone jack format hinted at in supply chain rumors and a multitude of parts leaks.

Like other recent parts leaks, including fresh photos published today, the headphones featured in EverythingApplesPro's video look identical to current EarPods iterations. Instead of terminating in the usual 3.5mm TRRS plug, however, this new version sports Apple's proprietary Lightning connector.
In the minute-long showcase, an unseen narrator is seen plugging the supposed future EarPods model into an iPhone running some flavor of iOS 9. He plays a music track from YouTube and proceeds to demonstrate that the multi-function remote control is operable, in this case managing pause/play and volume settings. The remote's microphone was not tested.
While the video bears the title "iPhone 7 EarPods," it offers no evidence to support claims that Apple will in fact bundle the headphones with an upcoming iPhone model. Indeed, aside from a design shared with current EarPods, the short clip contains no clues suggesting the device is a legitimate Apple product.
That being said, Apple is widely expected to debut a next-generation iPhone with updated internals this fall, the most contentious change being a switch away from the ubiquitous 3.5mm headphone jack format hinted at in supply chain rumors and a multitude of parts leaks.
Comments
Are we going to see lightning ports on Macbooks now?
Audeze has a nice Lightning cable for their headphones, and they placed everything (DAC/AMP/DSP) inside the portion of the cable that has the buttons. Since it's already there, and taking up space, it makes sense to put the extras there as well, instead of inside the connector at the iPhone.
I prefer the "AirPods" idea to this. Little earbuds that only work when they're in the correct coordination of each ear and turn off when taken out.
Yeah what a fu**ing mess. If this materializes I hope lightning to 3.5mm adapters are available day one.
You'd need a 3.5mm to Lightning dongle to use your traditional headphones on the next iPhone... then you'd need a Lightning to 3.5mm dongle to use your Lightning headphones on a Macbook.
This doesn't seem like a step forward, this seems like a step sideways. It's still wired, but instead of the old analog connector, now there's a lightning connector instead, with the main difference being that you can not charge your device while using these headphones.
If Bluetooth is the future of headphones like some people claim, then why wouldn't Apple just make Bluetooth EarPods?
And honestly, if we're being honest, Apple already has a GREAT DAC built into the iPhone. One of the best for a mobile device actually, and probably better than most computers too. I'm not seeing how you improve audio by leaving the construction of DACs to the headphone manufacturer. I'm sure the lightning earpods will have a good setup, but earpods are well...earpods. All Apple has done here is add complexity to their device, and that's not consumer friendly.
As for this video, they would never make such an ugly big connector.
They will almost certainly put Lightning ports on the new Macs as soon as they drop the 3.5mm Jack from the iPhone. It'll be like when they switched the 30-pin connector to Lightning on the iPad mid-production run. I just can't see Apple pushing acceptance of Lightning and BT, but make customers connect their new Lightning headphones to their new Macs with an adapter.
The new MacBook Pro has a 3.5mm Jack in the "leaked" case, but it also has a blank spot exactly opposite it as well. They could be planning on replacing the 3.5mm Jack after the iPhone drops it, or they could be planning to leave it and just add Lightning to the other side (it is a "Pro" device after all). The retina MB will almost certainly have the 3.5mm Jack replaced wi Lightning.
Plus, Lightning has many advantages on the Mac. It can be used as a charging port, leaving USBc ports free for peripherals, it can be used as an optional data port with USB 3 speeds. It can be used with iOS peripherals immediately giving new MacBook customers dongles they can use without having to buy new USBc dongles that do the same thing. That helps Apple cut costs as well since they only have to make one dongle for every product that can use it. It can also be used to charge the Apple Pencil. I can also imagine double Male Lightning connector cables -- maybe even Lightning on the charger instead of USB, as well.
As for your double dongle, one of the things that leads me to believe Lightning headphones will be encouraged, vs. adapters for old 3.5mm equipment, is that the adapters back to 3.5mm will be a lot less expensive since they will be analogue adapters. When the Lightning headphones sense they are being plugged into an analogue source, they will bypass the DAC and send the analogue signal straight to the headphones. So the adapter doesn't need any electronics.
This is the Gionee Eliife S5.1. It is 5.2mm thick - 1.9mm thinner than an 6S. It still manages to have a 3.5mm headphone jack. It came out in 2014.
I don't think phones need to be even this thin. There would have to be structural strength issues and I would suspect such phones probably have to rely on the inherent strength of the screen glass.
So it's quite clear the 3.5mm jack is not an impediment to making a phone thin. Oppo make an even thinner phone, the R5, which doesn't have a 3.5mm jack and comes with a micro USB dongle, much like Apple's equally inelegant 'solution'.
Phone manufacturers keep doing this thin thing but in a survey of phone users the most important feature is battery life.