Free wireless EarPods will make up for iPhone 7’s missing headphone jack

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A concept for how the iPhone 7 may look.
Photo: Erin Huismann

The iPhone 7 may be the best part of nine months away, but supply chain sources are starting to shed some light on what we can expect from Apple’s next generation handset.

One thing which seems more and more certain is that Apple plans to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in an effort to push users toward wireless headphones instead.

Twin reports from Chinese websites Anzhuo.cn and Feng suggest that the iPhone 7 will come with a single Lightning port for handling both connectivity and audio (for those wanting to plug in their headphones), but that Apple plans to bundle the iPhone 7 with wireless EarPods.

The idea that Apple may ditch the century-old headphone jack was rumored late last year, and has caused mixed reactions among fans — with some claiming that it is a bad move for Apple to turn its back on such a widespread standard, but others saying it’s part of Apple’s DNA to drive innovation forward.

While Apple has (obviously) yet to confirm one way or the other, there’s been some evidence to support it. Recently the company started selling $800 Audeze EL-8 Titanium Lightning headphones at both its online Apple Store and select brick-and-mortar retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada.

Although I can definitely see some audiophiles being upset if Apple *ahem* jacks in the headphone jack, the idea of wireless EarPods coming packaged with the iPhone 7 is definitely appealing.

Would you like to see these rumors become a reality? Leave your comments below.

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