A new report claims that Apple's next-generation iPhone 7 is going to be so thin that the company will abandon the 3.5mm headphone port. Instead, the iPhone 7 will use its Lightning port to listen to audio and ship with Lightning equipped EarPods.
When Apple introduced the original iPhone in 2007, it was the first of many backlashes the company would face in terms of the design of its smartphone. Most iPhone owners were out of luck when it came to using their favorite headphones with the smartphone because its 3.5mm headphone port was recessed several millimeters. Most users either had to suffer and use Apple's iconic but uncomfortable headphones that shipped with the iPhone or buy a special adapter or updated headphones that were designed to fit in the port.
Apple faced iPhone backlash again in 2012 when it released the 4-inch iPhone 5, which dropped the 30-pin Apple Dock connector introduced by Apple on the iPod (3rd generation) in 2003. Apple explained that the move allowed its designers to make the iPhone 5 thinner than its predecessors and include an all-digital, eight-signal design. The company knew most iPhone users had multiple 30-pin Apple Dock cables and accessories and tried to remedy the issue by selling a Lightning to 30-pin adapter for $29.
Now, a new report claims that Apple is preparing to remove the standard 3.5mm headphone port from the upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus due to the smartphone's ultra-thin design. The company will reportedly ship the smartphones with new Apple EarPods that will feature a Lightning connector.
If the rumor is true, it's almost guaranteed Apple will also announce a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter to allow users to use their current headphones with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
As with all iPhone rumors, take this one with a grain of salt for now. But don't be surprised if this comes to fruition, as Apple has already included support to allow companies to create headphones with Lightning connectors and they made their debut at CES in January.
