Apple has famously killed popular technologies when it believes they’re past their best — and it could be gearing up to kill one more. According to recent rumors, next year’s iPhone 7 will ship without the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of a thinner form factor.
Understandably, a lot of fans are unhappy about that prospect, which would mean all our existing headphones wouldn’t be compatible with the next iPhone — at least not without a (pricey) adapter. But could it be a move that pays off in the long run? Are there pros that outweigh the cons?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we battle it out over these questions and more!
Luke Dormehl (Writer, Cult of Mac): Now unlike some of the things we debate, I can totally see the other side of the argument here.
I’d never suggest that the 3.5mm headphone jack is worth keeping just because things have been that way for the past 60 years. The best tech “disrupters” — Steve Jobs among them — have shown that the surest way to break ground is by having no sentimental attachment to history. Things may be as they are for a reason, but the reason shouldn’t be the tautological “they’ve always been like that.” Apple’s always been one of the first companies to ditch components it deems to be on the wrong side of history — and 99 percent of the time it’s exactly right.
I also realize that, from a business perspective — particularly in the short term — Apple’s going to up its own headphone sales by switching to a new standard different from 99 percent of the rest of the market. It’s a great way of making extra cash, much as the lack of, say, a DVD player on the iMac drives iTunes sales by giving people less options for watching movies. Finally, we’ll get a thinner iPhone out of it.
So what possible argument could I have? Well, let’s start with the fact that there are a lot of audiophiles out there for whom high quality audio is a major issue, and who won’t be catered for by Apple. Long term, I’m sure other manufacturers will (be forced to) cater to Apple’s new standard, but what about people who have already spent more than the cost of an iPhone buying a good set of headphones? And those who will want to in the immediate future? There’s definitely no guarantee that Apple will cater to this market in a hurry. Beats headphones have never been the audiophile’s headphones of choice, and even after owning the company for well over a year Apple hasn’t improved the sound quality of the bass-heavy headphones.
And don’t even get me started on Bluetooth headphones.
From a consumer perspective, is it really worth bringing about this change purely to get an iPhone that’s thinner than the (arguably) already too thin handset we’ve got? I’m not sure it is. But I’m sure you’ll disagree, Killian.
Photo: Philips
Killian Bell (Writer, Cult of Android): I know ditching the headphone jack is going to upset a lot of people, but Apple has proven over and over again that it doesn’t mind pissing people off for a short time to deliver a greater product that’s better equipped for the future.
If Apple does take this step, it will push Lightning-compatible headphones and wireless Bluetooth headphones — which are more affordable than ever. But just as it did when it made the switch from 30-pin to Lightning, it will also offer an adapter that will let you plug existing headphones into that Lightning port. We’ll likely see third-party alternatives, too.
This will bring in additional revenue, and ensure Apple doesn’t completely alienate those customers who already own decent headphones they don’t want to replace. Yes, headphone manufacturers will have to design new products that are Lightning-compatible — but when headphone sales shoot through the roof after iPhone 7 goes on sale, they won’t be complaining.
I also believe that Apple has more than just its obsession with thinness in mind here; a slimmer iPhone isn’t the only benefit that could come from ditching the headphone jack.
Taking this step could free up space inside the iPhone that could be used for other components. Apple could make the iPhone’s battery slightly bigger, or even add things we haven’t had before. Recent rumors have claimed it is currently testing an iPhone 7 prototype with two rear-facing cameras.
The move could also make it easier for Apple to make the iPhone more water-resistant. I know other manufacturers have produced water-resistant devices with headphone jacks, but it’s still a gaping hole in the bottom of the device that isn’t ideal.
I’m sure there are other benefits I’m missing, too. Again, I believe the short-term frustration of adapting to iPhone life without a headphone jack will be worth the long-term advantages.
Luke: The problem is that, unlike some of the other standards that Apple has killed over the years — floppy drives, for instance — the headphone jack isn’t a dying technology, and it’s one that continues to be used by all of us every day. I’m just not convinced there’s a good reason to get rid of it — and just speaking from personal experience, I’m betting Apple would use the saved space to make the iPhone slimmer rather than to greatly improve battery life.
You make an interesting point about the water-resistant future of iPhones, and that’s something Apple has been working toward recently, but if it can come up with clever ways to make the Lightning and speaker ports water-tight, surely it could do the same for the headphone jack.
Don’t get me wrong: Apple’s riding a massive wave of success and no-one’s going to argue that ditching the current headphone port is going to be what pushes the Cupertino empire to collapse, but I just can’t see any legitimate positives that aren’t massively outweighed by negatives. This would have a bigger impact than some of the standards Apple has killed, would leave a nasty taste in many users’ mouths — and may even make some think twice about upgrading.
There’s just no real upside to it.
Photo: Flickr/krheesy. (CC-licensed)
Killian: Well, I’ve just given you several good upsides — and explained how simple it will be to live without a built-in headphone jack, either by using Lightning-compatible headphones, wireless Bluetooth headphones, or an adapter. Yes, it will be a pain at first — and I know my thoughts won’t go down well with the vast majority of iPhone fans — but we’ll get over it.
I appreciate that the headphone jack isn’t a dying technology — at least not until Apple kills it — but neither were buttons before Apple decided the iPhone didn’t need them. And yes, Apple would use this move to make the iPhone thinner, because its chassis wouldn’t need to accommodate that large port — but it would also be left with a gaping hole inside the device that could be used for something else. There’s no reason why it couldn’t be thinner and have a second rear-facing camera.
We’ve laid down our thoughts on this subject now, so how about we turn it over to the readers here.
Do you see the advantages in ditching the headphone jack, or do you think Apple would be making a big mistake if it doesn’t put one in a future iPhone?
Friday Night Fights is a series of weekly death matches between two no-mercy brawlers who will fight to the death — or at least agree to disagree — about which is better: Apple or Google, iOS or Android?
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
26 responses to “Will Apple alienate iPhone fans by ditching the headphone jack?”
No, it’ll have exactly the opposite effect. Wait and see.
No. It’s about time
Apple will NOT remove the 3.5mm headphone jack simply to make the phone thinner. If they do it, it’s for a good reason. Just look at the iPod touch, it’s 1mm thinner than the iPhone 6s and that still has a headphone jack. Heck, the iPod nano is 5.4mm thick and that still has a 3.5mm headphone jack!!!
Time to move on I say. Apple are thinking about the future. If you’re unhappy about it, it’s simple, don’t buy the iPhone 7!!
I agree. The ultimate goal is not a thinner phone, it’s a portless phone (with wireless charging), starting with the audio jack. Also, with Airplay headphones, you can use the same set on your iDevice, Mac and even AppleTV (consider using wired earphones with AppleTV!). The next MacBook could therefore have two USB-C ports, rather than one plus single purpose audio.
The real goal is to eliminate all wires, not just on the iPhone, but everywhere. And to create a better user experience on all devices.
Yep. Spot on. I forgot about wireless charging. Unfortunately the majority of people won’t understand.
Ok. I won’t.
I loose earbuds-a lot. Replacing them with pricey ones that only work with the iPhone would be a big problem. I buy the new iPhone every year but this change would probably change this practice quickly–I wait until my 6s plus becomes obsolete.
I’m torn. I have no nostalgic attachment to the 3.5mm jack, but it’s also not a currently-dying technology like floppy drives, optical drives, adb/scsi/firewire/etc all were. If there are genuine benefits to be had by switching to lightning exclusively, then I’m all for it (so long as they include lightning earpods with a new purchase). …oh, and assuming they include an adapter, I do hope that it still works with 3rd-party accessories like Square readers.
I’ve seen this idea being debated on several sites and listened to the arguments on several podcasts, but none of them have discussed another potential hassle: most people have multiple devices, and often move their preferred headphones/earbuds back and forth amongst these. Why do I mention this? Apple still sells a huge product segment that does not include a lightning port: Macs. Most people I know use their favorite headphones with their iPhone, iPad, AND their Mac. Until there is a lightning port on their full line of Macs, it doesn’t make sense for them to go lightning only. Hell, even the super thin and light Macbook includes a 3.5mm audio jack — despite relegating all other connectivity to a lone USB-C port. …and again, even this forward-looking laptop (in terms of ports) does not include a lightning port.
I agree with your first paragraph mostly. I think Square probably would be willing to switch to a lightning reader. I mean their Square stand for iPads is already built with a 30-pin and a lighting port instead of the headphone jack. Either way their will obviously be a lighting to 3.55mm headphone adapter made too. Expensively from apple or cheap from a 3rd party maker.
For their macs having 3.55 mm i see no hassle either still. The Apple pencil includes a lighting adapter that’ll allow the Apple pencil to be charged from a lighting cable(so lighting input to lightning input one end accepts the Apple pencil lighting and the other accepts the lighting cable with a USB end and it’s like half an inch in size. That exact same adapter could work or a slight variation virtually just making it a USB 2.0/3.0 or USB type-C headphone. Also I mean most people will still have all their 3.55mm headphones. They aren’t going to instantly throw them away and they last for years so they can still be used and have zero issues. Then on top of those options there is bluetooth and wifi as well.
Ah, I had forgotten about the Pencil’s lightning adapter! That would be a decent interim fix.
What I’d really like to see is a push for wireless headphones with a more hassle-free approach to pairing — especially if said pairing could work across multiple devices (again, iPhone/iPad/Mac). We’re already seeing hints of this with their new “Magic” devices like the keyboard and trackpad, as well as the Pencil (plug it in to the host device’s USB or Lightning port, and it pairs itself). It’s probably not cost-effective at the moment, but it’d be awesome to see wireless earpods packed in with next gen iPhones. Make these easy enough to pair that Moms and Dads aren’t depending on their kids to set it up for them, and you may have a winner. ;)
Everybody uses 3.55mm headphones daily? Nobody likes bluetooth? Wifi or Airplay like and bluetooth headphones are becoming more and more popular. People tend to forget that the headphone jack is nearly 100 years old created in the early 1900s and just has adapted over years. Last I knew the 3.55mm jack is over 20 years old now alone. My primary headphones anymore are bluetooth. My other headphones are Audio Technica and I just use them on my Macbook as the cable is like 6 feet long. The only reason a lot of people use 3.55mm headphones is because they are included in the box with your phone. They at least to the consumer are a free bonus in getting a phone and have been for 15 years in getting a cell phone or smartphone. If EarPods were lightning(USB-C on android) or bluetooth people would still use them. People, meaning consumers, want simplicity. Rather than going out and looking for good headphones, they just use what they have.
The headphone market realistically is horrific right now. As it’s really a market that most people in the world just don’t care about. The only reason most people care about headphones is so they can tune people out and listen to music on their own. Go up to consumers on the street I guarantee you about 98% of them won’t know what you mean talking about highs, mids, and lows on headphones. That’s why most of the market probably will say the best headphones on the market are Beats because most people really don’t know. I won’t lie though either my primary headphones are PowerBeats2(bluetooth) for running and listening to music or videos casually because I like the base sounds primarily and those are good for running. But if I’m doing soundboard for something I’m definitely going to be using my Audio Technica headphones over my Beats every single time.
Also I think Apple would first consider going to the 2.5mm headphone jack before getting rid of it completely. Yes it’s Mono audio but that means you get both channels of sound from one ear instead of half the audio on one ear and half on the other ear. It’s already a feature on iOS accessibility to turn on Mono Audio too. I personally don’t see that as a negative either for general music listening. Even better if you’re sharing headphones with somebody. Some audiophiles might hate mono but I don’t.
But I’m definitely not against them removing the 3.55mm headphone jack. One because I have a 6s which I don’t plan on replacing for at least two years or not more so I don’t have to worry about it what so ever. Also again as my primary headphones are bluetooth. It’s really just like removing the DVD drive on Macs. I have a Macbook Pro without it and iMac with the DVD drive. More often than not I download on my Macbook Pro or watch online rather than getting DVD’s and putting it on my iMac or a dvd/blu ray player. People will adapt, other companies will do the same and the only thing it’ll do is advance technology. I guarantee if it happens bluetooth 4.2 and beyond will just get better and better. Also lightning headphones give tons of options that a 3.5mm can’t. After all lighting can transfer data. 3.5mm primarily for sound.
Why not get rid off the lighning port altogether and offer wireless charging? You can make the phone as thin as you want. The thinner the phone, the thicker the case. I don’t understand their logic.
I’m confused, why would a thinner phone dictate a thicker case?
Confused? Have you not seen the cases people put on their phones?
1) To the 3.5 mm headphone jack, don’t let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out.
2) The real problem isn’t, where will you plug in your old headphones, its how will you charge the phone and listen to your headphones at the same time?
The adapter would be like the HDMI adapter. HDMI port and a charging port. Simple. Doesn’t require making new EarPods, and makes all expensive wireless headphones owners happy with a free ad later so they aren’t abandoned.
If Apple made the iPhone water proof to 15 feet and to do this would require ditching the current one then I am all for it.
The major problem none of you talked about is… Lightning is NOT an open standard !
So Apple can’t kill the audio jack if they remove it from their device because what would happen to PC and Android OEM ?
They would need to adopt a conpetiting port which would be an industry standard (fictional example: audio over USB-C) !
But if Apple open up lightning to everyone, a good way to make it mainstream and popular would be to (finally) bundle good earphone with the iPhone 7 which could be urBeats (with lightning connector) !
They probably don’t cost much more to produce then EarPods but are way better… And one way to satisfy current Beats or other pricey headphone owner would be to offer free (or cheap) new cable ! Instead of a clunky adapter that people lose or break they could simply offer 3.5mm jack to lightning cable…
People got it all wrong, apple has been creating new ports and withdraw it after 5 years, they do this so that people dont settle down on anything, so that you need to buy the accessory or idevice every few years
They also do this on software, no perfect apple programs can last more that 10 years, so that you cant settle down and use it forever
I also say “move on” and get rid of the old jack. Didn’t I see/hear rumors of new wireless/bluetooth, re-designed ear pods with the next iPhone?
I thought USB-C was supposed to be the one port to rule them all.
If Apple were simply concerned with making things better for all of us, perhaps it could incorporate serious battery life and wireless charging into our phones. It is borderline pathetic to see this type of move as anything but an attempt to leverage the purchase of Beats into something more profitable for the company.
Well, the one serious problem here is that 3.5mm jacks aren’t floppy drives or optical drives. We are talking about standard that is adopted by music industry and used on many low and high end audio equipment.
I highly doubt someone will toss an expensive audio receiver for some lightning port.
I am also aware that almost nobody is using real high end headphones on their iPhones because the idea of this is an absurd one.
iPhones do not have powerful amps in order to drive anything from the high end category and few people who are doing so are using external portable amps or they are just stupid people with too much of a spare money and zero understanding in music and sound.
Now It does not mean that you can’t get some good headphones for your phone and even more these headphones will be also expensive.
Whoever is talking about bluetooth headphones, sorry guys the quality isn’t there.
It is relatively comfortable yes, but it ends there. Bluetooth has many issues with interference signals in cities that are jammed with radio signals. Just by walking in a radio dense area can disrupt your listening and you can do nothing about it.
Another thing is that many companies did try to ditch the 3.5mm jack before (i.e. Samsung, HTC, Nokia) but it did not work. They’ve used only one port for charging and headphone and data transfers and they also had the bluetooth option. Still things did not work for them.
I think there is no need to make our phones thinner, what’s really important is to work on ergonomics of the very device we are using all day, every day. Making it thinner will not add to it’s ergonomics at all.
The idea of one port rules it all makes things more complicated and less user friendly. Many times I am syncing my phone and listening to my music library at the same time. With one port I will not be able to do the same ( even if there will be an adapter option, it’ll mean one more cable has to be on me all the time and another one to connect my “old” headphones to a shiny new iPhone).
So I really hope Apple won’t do this and we will still enjoy one unified experience without compromising our comfort and versatility of our devices.
I can’t remember the last time I used plug-in headphones. I use bluetooth exclusively. It would be great if they moved headphone support to the lightning port and develop bluetooth headphones that could also be charged through the lightning port.
When will fanbois learn?..another way to get MORE $$$ from you. There are alternatives to this constant money grab.
LOL at the MacBook now may get two ports..no duh another (improvement)
Seriously leave Apple. Its past its prime.
No. They won’t. Using the lightning port means the ability to add more features to headphones. Also, a lot of people use Bluetooth headphones, so they don’t even use the headphone jack anyway.
I would love to see the jack gone, arguably a far better move than most of the things they have ditched over the years. Jacks are easily broken, and can even lead to the death of the whole unit. I had a TV, kids tripped over the jack and the TV would only work if we fiddle with a nail in the jack hole, it was a Sony TV, so not just some crap. Also, a lot of headphones stop working when the jacks get wobbly Something magnetic or with solid connections like a mini USB would be better. While they are at it, get rid of the wall plug.