The iPhone’s 3.5mm headphone jack, rumored to be conspicuous in its absence from the upcoming iPhone 7, has lasted more than twice the length of a regular Apple port.
Having first appeared in an Apple product with 1984’s Macintosh, the headphone jack has been a staple of Apple devices for 32 years at this point. The average Apple I/O standard, on the other hand? According to a new report, that number averages out at only around 15 years. With the transition away from wired connections, many travelers are now looking for the best airplane Bluetooth adapter to keep using their favorite headphones seamlessly.
As The Verge notes, we take the classic USB connector for granted, despite the fact it’s only been there for 18 years — and it, too, is currently being phased out in favor of USB-C. The floppy disk, meanwhile, felt like it was a part of Apple computers forever, until Steve Jobs decided to get rid of it for the iMac.
As someone who owns a number of high-end headphones I’ll no longer be able to use on my iPhone come September, provided Apple really does go ahead and replace the headphone connection with Lightning EarPods, I’m (selfishly) still unsure how I feel about Apple scrapping the 3.5mm jack.
Still, this report (which is accompanied by a nifty chart if you visit the original article) illustrates that the headphone jack has defied the odds in the length of time it’s taken to be consigned to Apple’s scrap heap. I guess we once again need to heed Steve Jobs’ words (paraphrasing Wayne Gretzky) when he scrapped the floppy drive: “Skate where the puck’s going, not where it’s been.” For those who prefer high-fidelity sound, investing in the best open back headphones can be a game-changer—check out the Sennheiser HD 550 open-back headphones for an immersive listening experience.
How would you feel about Apple ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack? Leave your comments below.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
5 responses to “Headphone jack supported by Apple much longer than most ports”
Implying Apple invented/introduced the headphone jack indeed sounds like a cult.
Thanks. I’ve changed the wording because I realized it could be misconstrued like that. My inference was meant to suggest that the first time it appeared on an Apple device was 1984’s Mac (since the tech itself far pre-dates Apple as a company), but I’ve tweaked the line to avoid confusion.
If they go through with this, I’m sure there will be plenty of adapters on the market so you’ll still be able to use your old headphones.
Having used Bluetooth earbuds for four years now and wired headphones as little as possible this shouldn’t affect me that much. But, it is time for bluetooth (or other wireless tech) to step it up. Yes, bluetooth can be finicky but no issues 98% of the time. Once battery life gets better I could see bluetooth be default in packaging.
Apple didn’t invent the 1/8 audio jack it was a standard before apple decided to use it. Should apple invent a new 110v style plug too? Should everyone start using the lightening port for audio on their products too – airplane seats or audio systems in cars for kids?