The iPhone 7 will probably drop the 3.5mm port that’s ubiquitous amongst audio-capable devices, in favour of Lightning (and Bluetooth) headphones. That standard lasted 32 years on Apple devices according to a recent Verge report, but now it looks like Apple are pulling the plug (pun intended).
This week, a pair of EarPods with Lightning connectors appeared on Chinese social network Sina Weibo. The photos are both nondescript, but clearly show a set of Apple in-ears terminating in a Lightning connector instead of the 3.5mm connector.
Of course, these images should be taken with a grain of salt. It would be easy enough to Photoshop a Lightning end onto a set of EarPods, or even physically produce a (non-working) replica. Still, if we see these leaks continue (or appear from more trustworthy sources), it could provide critical support for the vanishing 3.5mm jack theory.
The photos also run counter to the theory that Apple will ship the iPhone 7 with a 3.5mm to Lightning adapter, which would allow users to use their existing 3.5mm headphones on the new iPhones. Of course, there’s nothing to stop Apple from testing both approaches before adopting one in the future.
What do you think of the whole thing? Will Apple drop the 3.5mm connector on this year’s iPhone? Maybe it’ll come next year with the other big expected design changes? Maybe it’ll never happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!