Japanese site Mac Otakara recently predicted the next generation iPhone 7 will not have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Instead, rumors said Apple will design a universal lightning connector for both audio and power. Now more sources have come out to corroborate this rumor. Anzhuo.cn and Wei Feng, both Chinese sites sourcing supply chain insiders, report previous speculation are accurate.
The two newer reports explicitly state the iPhone 7 may have lightning-equipped EarPods, but more likely wireless Bluetooth headphones. A lightning adapter would be available for those who prefer corded headphones.
Will the iPhone 7 pair with wireless Apple EarPods to make up for axed headphone jack?
An interesting report from 9to5Mac from June 2014 reveals Apple made changes to its Made-For-iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFi) program which now allows third-party manufactures to develop headphones that use a lightning connector instead of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Aside from cutting the fat from iPhone 6 design, the advantage to lightning-equipped headphones is access to the iPhone’s power supply. Internal headphone batteries could be eliminated, or power from the wearable could be transmitted back to the iPhone via the lightning port.
This rumor doesn’t help predict if Apple will go with wireless EarPods or lightning-equipped EarPods. It is, however, evidence that Apple is (maybe), and has been (possibly), planning some kind of change related to the headphone jack. It’s unclear if Apple’s goal is to make lightning-headphones exclusive to Apple devices. If it is, it doesn’t make sense that the first lightning connected headphones were made by Philips and not by Beats. This hints at the fact maybe Apple would rather have wireless EarPods pair with the iPhone 7. Beats offers Powerbeats 2, Solo2, and Studio wireless headphones, but the cheapest model runs for $100. Will the iPhone 7 come with affordable next generation wireless headphones? That would be a smooth, intuitive move on Apple’s behalf.
In addition, it would also be in Apple’s best interest to provide wireless EarPods if the headphone jack is removed because that would leave just one port on the iPhone 7. It would be an extreme inconvenience to have to switch between listening to music and charging your iPhone 7. On the other hand, a wireless charger would solve that problem.
Ultimately, it's too soon to get excited from these rumors just yet. The iPhone 7 still has awhile before designs are finalized and is not expected to release until fall 2016.
Want to know more? Click here to check out the latest iPhone 7 rumors.
