New photos show possible Lightning-equipped EarPods for Apple's 'iPhone 7'
A pair of photos published on Wednesday show what are claimed to be Lightning-ready versions of the EarPods bundled with iPhones, presumably intended for Apple's "iPhone 7" and "iPhone 7 Plus."
The images were posted to Chinese blogging site Weibo, often a source of leaks within Apple's supply chain, and highlighted by iPhone7.nl. Apart from the presence of a flat, elongated Lightning connector, the headphones are similar to the EarPods bundled with the iPhone 6s, including an inline remote.
The authenticity of the gear is difficult to determine, but would fall in line with expectations that Apple is planning to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from the "iPhone 7" line, forcing buyers to use either Lightning or Bluetooth for external audio. Earlier today, Apple supplier Cirrus Logic unveiled an authorized Lightning headphone development kit.
Using Lightning would enable higher-quality sound, but also render many headphones, speakers, and other 3.5mm accessories useless, at least without an adapter. Apple could potentially include one with new iPhones to ease the transition.
The "iPhone 7" is expected to arrive this fall, most likely in Apple's normal September launch window. Upgrades should focus primarily on speed, capacity, and camera technology, though the bigger 5.5-inch model might also include an iPad Pro-style Smart Connector.
The images were posted to Chinese blogging site Weibo, often a source of leaks within Apple's supply chain, and highlighted by iPhone7.nl. Apart from the presence of a flat, elongated Lightning connector, the headphones are similar to the EarPods bundled with the iPhone 6s, including an inline remote.
The authenticity of the gear is difficult to determine, but would fall in line with expectations that Apple is planning to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack from the "iPhone 7" line, forcing buyers to use either Lightning or Bluetooth for external audio. Earlier today, Apple supplier Cirrus Logic unveiled an authorized Lightning headphone development kit.
Using Lightning would enable higher-quality sound, but also render many headphones, speakers, and other 3.5mm accessories useless, at least without an adapter. Apple could potentially include one with new iPhones to ease the transition.
The "iPhone 7" is expected to arrive this fall, most likely in Apple's normal September launch window. Upgrades should focus primarily on speed, capacity, and camera technology, though the bigger 5.5-inch model might also include an iPad Pro-style Smart Connector.
Comments
That said, I rarely use the headphone jack and don't have a problem with losing the universal Jack and getting a new pair of ear buds with a new phone. I don't see why this is so upsetting to many people especially if an adapter becomes available. It would be a nice market for a case maker to make a case where the bottom is extended by a little and the case includes the electronics to extend the Lightning port while also giving the buyer a standard headphone jack along an edge of the case. They could also offer a battery to extend the times between recharging. I wouldn't buy one but there may be a market for a case like that.
It is an illusion caused by the glass on the table top. You can tell from the reflections that there is glass over the woodgrain.
Those Apple earbuds are not exactly super expensive, high quality earphones to begin with. Lightning connector or not will have virtually no impact on the sound quality.
And people won't be able to charge their devices while using headphones now? That seems kind of stupid.
We still need to hear more details about this, but I remain suspicious of this, and it seems like there are more disadvantages than any advantages.
The connector looks completely different to the connector on the Apple Lightning cable, or the audio jack on the Apple Ear Pods for that matter. Doesn't necessarily mean it isn't genuine, but it's lacking key elements of Apple's current cable design.
I don't know if Apple's planning to ditch the 3.5mm jack, it's not implausible, but I don't think this specific unit is something they would ship.
Could be internal to that housing.
Wireless is obviously more convenient, since there are no wires, but wireless still has one big issue, and that is latency. High latency is pure crap and absolutely terrible. I'll choose wired over wireless any day, if the wireless has latency.
Either way. This makes me feel better. More evidence Apple is moving away from 3.5mm; works for me. I'm in the Apple ecosystem.
I'd be very surprised and shocked if Apple:
- didn't included lightning EarPods
- or included the standard 3.5mm EarPods (because they didn't release any Lightning EarPods at all), and not include an adapter for lightning
- or not include anything with the phone. Actually release lightning EarPods, but not include them or the 3.5mm EarPods, and also not include an adapter; and screwed people over by expecting them to buy either one
I use Apple's EarPods and Jaybird X2 bluetooth earphones. If Apple ships lightning EarPods with their phone, then I'm covered. For me, no real inconvenience or I'll need to buy an adapter if they don't include lightning EarPods. If there's a kool benefit for removing the 3.5mm port, freeing up internal space, then that sounds intriguing.