Alleged 'iPhone 7' cable suggests Apple could include 3.5mm headphone jack after all

AppleInsider · May 3, 2016 11:42AM

Despite a plethora of rumors and alleged design leaks suggesting Apple's next iPhone won't include a legacy headphone jack, a new part from China claimed to be for the "iPhone 7" depicts space for a 3.5-millimeter input.

The cable, purported to be for a 4.7-inch "iPhone 7," was posted to Chinese microblogging site Weibo, and spotlighted by Nowhereelse.fr. It shows a layout largely similar to the cable for Apple's iPhone 6s, and includes space for both the Lightning port and a headphone jack.

Thus far, virtually all "iPhone 7" leaks have suggested Apple will move away from the headphone jack. Instead, Apple is rumored to ship a pair of Lightning-connected EarPods with its next iPhone, and to push accessory makers to offer their own Lightning headphones.

Apple is also rumored to be working on a pair of Bluetooth EarPods that would recharge through the iPhone's Lightning port and be sold separately. And alleged "iPhone 7" case leaks have suggested the back of the device could feature a Smart Connector, which would allow for the device to be recharged, much like an iPad Pro, while using headphones through the Lightning port.

Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone in September, its usual annual timeframe. It's likely to start at the same $649 starting price as Apple's current flagship handset, the iPhone 6s.

ireland · May 3, 2016 11:49AM

*alleged

lkrupp · May 3, 2016 12:24PM

The sad thing is that all this rage is based on rumor alone. IF the 3.5mm jack remains the enraged crowd will claim victory over Apple. And all because of a rumor. Sad.

hodar · May 3, 2016 12:45PM

Other than "ALLEGED" size, there is no reason to get rid of the 3.5mm jack. All headphones, all speakers are analog devices. They are simple motor windings that move a diaphragm either up or down; depending upon current flow and the displacement is based upon the amount of the current. If Apple went digital, all they would be doing is moving the D/A converter from the phone, to the speaker - simply moving the conversion a matter of a foot or two would do ZERO to the fidelity of the music. I would say that the fidelity of the music would be more affected by the overall quality of the D/A converter, and the quality of the Power Supply that would power the D/A converter.

Odds are that the Quality of the D/A converter in a vast majority of headphones, would be inferior to the quality of the D/A converter and power supply found in your common cell phone. Why? Well, for starters your cell phone has a pretty nice microprocessor and a pretty robust battery. There is a huge quality in your cell phone, and the price drop found in mass production cannot be discounted - when compared to the individual costs that would be passed on to the consumer among the multitudes of headphone suppliers - who will all use their own brand of D/A converters and other cost savings in power supplies - in order to maximize profits. The odds are that unless you spend an inordinate amount of money, you will be worse off with a USB-C headphone, than you are with a decent quality 3.5mm headphone.

redraider11 · May 3, 2016 1:29PM

hodar said:

Other than "ALLEGED" size, there is no reason to get rid of the 3.5mm jack. All headphones, all speakers are analog devices. They are simple motor windings that move a diaphragm either up or down; depending upon current flow and the displacement is based upon the amount of the current. If Apple went digital, all they would be doing is moving the D/A converter from the phone, to the speaker - simply moving the conversion a matter of a foot or two would do ZERO to the fidelity of the music. I would say that the fidelity of the music would be more affected by the overall quality of the D/A converter, and the quality of the Power Supply that would power the D/A converter.
Odds are that the Quality of the D/A converter in a vast majority of headphones, would be inferior to the quality of the D/A converter and power supply found in your common cell phone. Why? Well, for starters your cell phone has a pretty nice microprocessor and a pretty robust battery. There is a huge quality in your cell phone, and the price drop found in mass production cannot be discounted - when compared to the individual costs that would be passed on to the consumer among the multitudes of headphone suppliers - who will all use their own brand of D/A converters and other cost savings in power supplies - in order to maximize profits. The odds are that unless you spend an inordinate amount of money, you will be worse off with a USB-C headphone, than you are with a decent quality 3.5mm headphone.

"No reason" to get rid of the headphone jack? You mean other than the fact that less holes in the phone mean better sealing from water and dust right? Or what about the fact that it is an old technology that eventually will fade out. There are other reasons too, but to say no reason is extremely ignorant.

MacPro · May 3, 2016 2:05PM

I never trust a plethora!

fallenjt · May 3, 2016 2:21PM

What's the point of getting rid of 3.5mm port anyway? I don't see enough benefits to move to Lighting connector beside Apple's obsession-1-port design!

jbishop1039 · May 3, 2016 2:24PM

This is pretty awesome. Either this is one helluva sleight by Apple, or their security is pretty tight on leaks for iPhone 7. Aside from a few sketchy specs and component parts, there's really no reliable info on this phone. Yet everyone is freaking out over it. Myself, I'm in the wait and see camp. Hoping for yet another surprise from Apple.

wdowell · May 3, 2016 2:26PM

Apple has always been said to have a more adventurous re-design and then a back-up upgraded version of its predecessor. I remain of the view that what we get in Autumn will be the 'back up' phone. For whatever reason that is - whether it be a screen tech issue or whatever. Or because they want a huge 10th anniversary phone next year.

6Sgoldfish · May 3, 2016 2:33PM

Ok, so a new rumor says the old rumor was just a rumor. Maybe it's time we start taking all of these with a few grains of salt.

cnocbui · May 3, 2016 2:44PM

redraider11 said:

hodar said:

Other than "ALLEGED" size, there is no reason to get rid of the 3.5mm jack. All headphones, all speakers are analog devices. They are simple motor windings that move a diaphragm either up or down; depending upon current flow and the displacement is based upon the amount of the current. If Apple went digital, all they would be doing is moving the D/A converter from the phone, to the speaker - simply moving the conversion a matter of a foot or two would do ZERO to the fidelity of the music. I would say that the fidelity of the music would be more affected by the overall quality of the D/A converter, and the quality of the Power Supply that would power the D/A converter.
Odds are that the Quality of the D/A converter in a vast majority of headphones, would be inferior to the quality of the D/A converter and power supply found in your common cell phone. Why? Well, for starters your cell phone has a pretty nice microprocessor and a pretty robust battery. There is a huge quality in your cell phone, and the price drop found in mass production cannot be discounted - when compared to the individual costs that would be passed on to the consumer among the multitudes of headphone suppliers - who will all use their own brand of D/A converters and other cost savings in power supplies - in order to maximize profits. The odds are that unless you spend an inordinate amount of money, you will be worse off with a USB-C headphone, than you are with a decent quality 3.5mm headphone.

"No reason" to get rid of the headphone jack? You mean other than the fact that less holes in the phone mean better sealing from water and dust right? Or what about the fact that it is an old technology that eventually will fade out. There are other reasons too, but to say no reason is extremely ignorant.

If you can seal the lightning port, it is trivial to apply the same technique used to a headphone jack, or speaker port or microphone port. Samsung managed it on the S7, I am sure Apple can manage to do the same.

The wheel is old technology, the asymetric airfoil used in the wings of planes is old tech, as are propellers, speaker drivers, bearings, hinges, doors and about a million other things. New isn't necessarily better.

The principle criteria for evaluating something like this is is it 'better', not it's date of invention.

jungmark · May 3, 2016 2:53PM

Will they or won't they? I hate cliff hangers.

Apple is a no win situation. If they include it (and they should) bloggers will claim credit and say Apple relented. If they remove it, "Apple screwed their customers."

jakeb · May 3, 2016 2:53PM

Ha! Everyone's been talking smack about the 7, but maybe it only seems boring because Apple actually has doubled down on security.

stantheman · May 3, 2016 3:05PM

Eliminating the cord is a big plus if Apple can produce the same experience with Bluetooth earbuds. If it doesn't happen sooner, it will happen eventually. Apple will be the company that makes the technology viable.

tommy0guns · May 3, 2016 3:08PM

cnocbui said:

redraider11 said:

"No reason" to get rid of the headphone jack? You mean other than the fact that less holes in the phone mean better sealing from water and dust right? Or what about the fact that it is an old technology that eventually will fade out. There are other reasons too, but to say no reason is extremely ignorant.

If you can seal the lightning port, it is trivial to apply the same technique used to a headphone jack, or speaker port or microphone port. Samsung managed it on the S7, I am sure Apple can manage to do the same.

The wheel is old technology, the asymetric airfoil used in the wings of planes is old tech, as are propellers, speaker drivers, bearings, hinges, doors and about a million other things. New isn't necessarily better.

The principle criteria for evaluating something like this is is it 'better', not it's date of invention.

The wheel is fundamental in mechanical physics. The headphone jack is tech that was good in it's day. Everything is going bluetooth. Go to any gym or airplane and see all the unused headphone ports. Now if you could connect a cord to your lightning port where one end had a magsafe, Then you could use that to connect any BT device for charging, pairing, enhanced function. Apple sees the headphone jack slowly becoming worthless. What usually happens is Apple rolls out the standard and the industry adapts.

redraider11 · May 3, 2016 3:12PM

cnocbui said:

redraider11 said:

"No reason" to get rid of the headphone jack? You mean other than the fact that less holes in the phone mean better sealing from water and dust right? Or what about the fact that it is an old technology that eventually will fade out. There are other reasons too, but to say no reason is extremely ignorant.

If you can seal the lightning port, it is trivial to apply the same technique used to a headphone jack, or speaker port or microphone port. Samsung managed it on the S7, I am sure Apple can manage to do the same.

The wheel is old technology, the asymetric airfoil used in the wings of planes is old tech, as are propellers, speaker drivers, bearings, hinges, doors and about a million other things. New isn't necessarily better.

The principle criteria for evaluating something like this is is it 'better', not it's date of invention.

You're seriously comparing the wheel and airfoil to the headphone jack? The reason those still exist is because the technology simply does not exist to replace them. The Lightning port on the other hand CAN replace the headphone jack, and it should.

cnocbui · May 3, 2016 3:53PM

redraider11 said:

cnocbui said:

If you can seal the lightning port, it is trivial to apply the same technique used to a headphone jack, or speaker port or microphone port. Samsung managed it on the S7, I am sure Apple can manage to do the same.

The wheel is old technology, the asymetric airfoil used in the wings of planes is old tech, as are propellers, speaker drivers, bearings, hinges, doors and about a million other things. New isn't necessarily better.

The principle criteria for evaluating something like this is is it 'better', not it's date of invention.

You're seriously comparing the wheel and airfoil to the headphone jack? The reason those still exist is because the technology simply does not exist to replace them. The Lightning port on the other hand CAN replace the headphone jack, and it should.

No, the lightning port is an all-digital port and has no analogue out capability. A POS dongle with a D/A converter and amp is not an improvement in terms of aesthetics, utility, cost or sound quality. Serving existing headphones and earbuds and other audio devices via the lightning port is not in any way an advance, it's actually retarded.

isteelers · May 3, 2016 3:58PM

jakeb said:

Ha! Everyone's been talking smack about the 7, but maybe it only seems boring because Apple actually has doubled down on security.

Yep. Everyone was making jokes when Tim said they were doubling down on security but now that no one seems to have any credible leaks people are whining that Apple can't innovate or getting upset over a rumor about a headphone jack of all things.

redraider11 · May 3, 2016 4:01PM

cnocbui said:

redraider11 said:

You're seriously comparing the wheel and airfoil to the headphone jack? The reason those still exist is because the technology simply does not exist to replace them. The Lightning port on the other hand CAN replace the headphone jack, and it should.

No, the lightning port is an all-digital port and has no analogue out capability. A POS dongle with a D/A converter and amp is not an improvement in terms of aesthetics, utility, cost or sound quality. Serving existing headphones and earbuds and other audio devices via the lightning port is not in any way an advance, it's actually retarded.

Apple isn't in the business of serving existing technology. They're trying to ADVANCE technology. Let's just get rid of the transistor as well and see if we can throw some vacuum tubes in the phone instead.

1983 · May 3, 2016 4:47PM

cnocbui said:

redraider11 said:

You're seriously comparing the wheel and airfoil to the headphone jack? The reason those still exist is because the technology simply does not exist to replace them. The Lightning port on the other hand CAN replace the headphone jack, and it should.

No, the lightning port is an all-digital port and has no analogue out capability. A POS dongle with a D/A converter and amp is not an improvement in terms of aesthetics, utility, cost or sound quality. Serving existing headphones and earbuds and other audio devices via the lightning port is not in any way an advance, it's actually retarded.

In terms of aesthetics, utility and cost you might be right, but when it comes to sound quality, an external DAC can do better than a built-in one. Because its self contained (shielded) and can be distanced from potential interference coming from other components inside a smartphone, tablet, laptop etc...also external DACs are usually of a higher specification than the ones found in these types of devices. The trade off is extra cost to the consumer, but this can be anything from a little to a lot, so is not really a big issue either as its your choice.

volcan · May 3, 2016 4:54PM

I'd like the 3.5mm jack to stay because I have very expensive noise cancelling headphones that use that input. I just see too many negatives and not enough positives for removing it. You can already use the Lightning port for audio if you have an accessory that can use it. Apple Pay really needs to have a local terminal capability like Square. The fact that they figured out how to use the audio jack for their input was genius.

Alleged 'iPhone 7' cable suggests Apple could include 3.5mm headphone jack after all

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