Apple might remove the 3.5mm headphone jack and replace it with Lightning-based headphones in their effort to create a thinner version of the iPhone through the upcoming iPhone 7.
Apple is known for dropping old technology in order to make room for new features. One proof is the original iMac that came without a floppy disk drive, which eventually popularized the usage of USB. The Japanese tech site Mac Otakara (via Mac World) said the next iPhone is going to be a millimeter thinner than the iPhone 6s. To do this Apple needs to use a thinner Lightning-based port.
This news might not be as good since most of the users are relying on headphones with 3.5mm jack, and it is available everywhere. This development may have a huge effect on the headphone market. However, users may still opt for a Bluetooth enabled headset or use some adapter dongle.
It should be noted though that these reports are merely speculations. Yet, there are some indications that the latest iPhone 7 rumor might be real. According to Mac Rumors, Mac Otakara is "often-reliable," and this makes the rumor somewhat credible. In this case, Apple may also release Lightning-based EarPods to support the iPhone 7's new audio connectivity feature.
Some big manufacturers are now taking advantage of the Lightning audio. These include JBL and Phillips which introduced their new Lightning-based models at Consumer Electronics Show early this year. In 2014, Phillips released its Fidelo M2L, a high-end headphone with 24-bit, onboard amplification and Lightning compatible.
However, Apple would not be the first smartphone manufacturer to drop the 3.5mm headphone jack. The HTC G1 was the first Android-based smartphone that shipped without a headphone jack. But given Apple's influence, shipping an iPhone without a 3.5mm jack might set a trend to be followed by other manufacturers.
Although the 3.5mm audio jack is standard for most gadgets and electronics that need headphone connectivity, if this rumor goes through, consumers won't see it in the iPhone 7.
