Music, for many of us, plays a huge role in our lives. It can make the morning commute on public transit that much more tolerable. It can be a subtle way of letting people know you don’t want to be bothered (well, most people understand that headphones in your ears mean not to bother you). The headphones can even help you concentrate on what is being said when you’re on an important phone call. For many of us, the news that the iPhone 7 has no headphone jack, was downright crushing.
In the fourth quarter of 2016, Apple confirmed that the iPhone 7 would not feature the usual 3.5 mm jack, but instead users would have to use Lightning or Bluetooth headgear if they wanted to listen to the latest Britney Spears album music discreetly. The company tried to justify the decision to make the iPhone 7 with no headphone jack because it would be able to free up valuable space on the device for other technology. They also insisted that it would further the company’s vision for audio improvements.
Farewell To The 3.5 MM Jack, You Will Be Missed
If you plan on purchasing the iPhone 7, you might be wondering what has taken the place of the 3.5 mm jack, since Apple claims they made this decision to make room for another tech. For many of us, it feels like the company is punishing loyal Apple users by forcing them to buy “Lightening-based” headphones, which is something that only the iPhone 7 can use, for the time being. According to Chris Taylor at Mashable, “there is no technological excuse for this.” Taylor even went so far to say that Apple “eradicated the most successful, most widespread and best sounding audio standard in the world, for its own proprietary system.” Because there isn’t a headphone jack with the new iPhone, people who have purchased expensive, high-quality headphones are (understandably) mad. Of course, you can continue using your corded headphones with the dongle that will come with each new iPhone 7, however, if you lose said dongle, it will cost you $9 a pop.
So, not only did they purchase these expensive headsets, they are being told that those devices are going to be useless when you upgrade your phone. On top of that, you are going to have to spend $160 for Apple Air Pods (however, there are alternatives that are much cheaper). Needless to say, their anger is warranted. However, Apple fans aren’t the only ones who are going to have to make the transition to Bluetooth headsets. December, the tech world was abuzz with the rumor that the Samsung Galaxy S8 headphone jack could be gone, too. Samsung said they could use the extra space to add stereo speakers. However, that could just be a bit of wishful thinking.
Pros And Cons Of No 3.5 MM Jack
As we try to get on board with the iPhone 7 with no headphone jack, let’s talk about some of the pros and cons about this “courageous” move.
Pro
- Thinner Phone – When you slide your headphones into the socket, you’ll notice that the socket is pretty deep. With the 3.5 mm Jack gone, Apple can increase the battery size or even increase the screen size without changing the footprint of the device.
- Better Audio Quality – For the past few years, you could purchase Lightning headphones that connect through the phone’s Lightning connector. These headphones can use power from the iPhone to increase the quality of the audio. There aren’t too many companies who have embraced this tech yet, which means there isn’t going to be too many options available—however, by removing the port, it could be the move that is needed to make sure that these headphones become used more.
- No More Tangles – No one really loves having to untangle cords when you want to listen to music. Since the Apple headphone jack (and possibly Samsung) is a thing of the past, you won’t have to deal with that hassle.
Cons
- One Port – If you want to charge your iPhone and listen to music at the same time, sorry to say, but you can’t do that anymore because there is only one lightning connector on the phone.
- Increased Battery Usage – Wireless capabilities eat up your power, there’s no denying that. So that extra battery space that you may have gotten excited for will be going toward powering your Bluetooth headphones if you want to be completely wireless—or you’ll have to keep track of the Lightning port adapter to use with your headphones.
- Accessory Clutter – Forget using the AUX cable to connect the phone to your car’s sound system, because all of those accessories are going to be useless and you’ll have to purchase new Lightening-friendly accessories.
Conclusion
Anytime technology companies take a step away from what we are used to is going to cause a stir. People are resistant to change, especially if this change isn't changed in the right direction. Apple’s decision to release the iPhone 7 with no headphone jack could be their way to push technology forward… Or try to sell us their own headphones. What is clear to Apple fans is that their decision is one that people still struggle with.