It is still a few months to go before Apple unveils the iPhone 7 in September this year. A lot of major leaks have already confirmed many good features that the phone will pack. One of those leaks have almost confirmed that the iPhone 7 will skip the 3.5mm headphone jack. But is this move a good decision for Apple?
Well, removing the 3.5mm headphone jack in the iPhone 7 can provide some great advantages to the device. But can it also cause some problems? Let’s find out.
Why iPhone 7 Should Skip the 3.5mm Headphone Jack
1. iPhone 7 Will Get Slimmer
The addition of the 3D Touch technology in the iPhone 6s’ display made the phone slightly thicker than the iPhone 6s. Fans are expecting Apple to change that with the iPhone 7. Now that Apple is going to get rid of the 3.5mm jack, audio will be delivered through the Lightning jack which is flatter. This will help make the iPhone 7 slimmer.
2. More Space Inside the Phone
In case you don’t know, the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack requires an inbuilt DAC (digital to analog converter) in the phone along with an amplifier to play music through the jack. On the other hand, if Apple is going to give the audio-through-headphone responsibility to the Lightning port, then the headphones itself will get DAC and amplifier in them. So ultimately, the removal of the headphone jack will remove those components in the device and make more room inside, thus allowing Apple to add more functions.
3. Audio Quality is Better Through Lightning Port
As mentioned above, if DAC and amplifier get placed inside the headphones itself, the iPhone 7 will only be responsible for digital signal output and not for analog output. The Lightning port is great at digital output, so the audio quality can be made to sound better using different means, like better amplifier.
4. Hardware Authorization in Apple’s Style
We all know that Apple likes to keep things locked away and keeps its ecosystem closed from intruders. Signal source is strictly controlled and only authorized external devices are allowed. For instance, replacing the Touch ID won’t work, as it needs to match with the Device ID. Similarly, if an unauthorized device is connected to the Lightning jack, the signal will automatically be cutoff, thus taking care of the device’s security.
Why Apple Shouldn’t Remove the 3.5mm Jack
1. Can’t Charge iPhone While Listening to Music
If there’s no 3.5mm jack, you will have to connect the headphone in the lightning port. And if the phone is running out of battery, you will have to disconnect the headphone to plug in the charger. So basically, you cannot listen to music via headphone while charging the device. Then you will have to use a Bluetooth headset.
2. Your Old Headphones Won’t Work
We all have the traditional headphones in our home that come with the 3.5mm pins. Those headphones will not work with the new iPhone 7 if there’s no 3.5mm jack. Also, you won’t be able to connect your speakers to the iPhone via 3.5mm cables. Either Apple will sell the 3.5mm-to-Lightning connector that will obviously come expensive, or you will either have to buy expensive after-market connectors. And even then there’s no guarantee whether those devices will work with the iPhone if there’s device authorization like we mentioned earlier in this post.
So what do you think? Should Apple get rid of the 3.5mm jack? Comment below.