Chinese supply chains have reported that the standard 3.5mm headphone jack is to be spurned to allow for a thinner model
As FACT report, Chinese supply chain sources have confirmed that the standard 3.5mm headphone jack, currently provided on Apple’s iPhone, is soon to be removed in the next generation of iPhone to make way for wireless and its ‘Lightning’ port technology. Lightning ports are available on the current model of iPhone but are most commonly used for charging.
The move away from the analogue technology that drives the standard headphone port may mean that a proportion of buyers of the iPhone 7 will have to buy new headphones in order to listen to audio from the new device, or have to buy a Lightning to jack adaptor.
9to5Mac outline the concerns that might arise as Apple move towards new technologies. First, that the new, iPhone 7-friendly headphones that replace the cheap, simple standard 3.5mm port may prove expensive; second, that the ‘ecosystem’ may not be able to catch up in time, meaning Apple dominate the market with their Lightning port; and thirdly, that if this does happen, Apple will introduce licensing fees.
Lightning seems to be the future in Apple’s eyes, and the company has allowed other phone manufacturers to use the technology already.
