iPhone 7 Release Date, Specs & Features: New Model To Ditch Headphone Jack? [Rumors]

The iPhone 7 is not due for release for at least a few more months, but there has been no shortage or rumors. The latest one is not even that surprising anymore: Mac Rumors said that a reliable source shared that the next iPhone will no longer have a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The outlet said that Apple Inc is working on replacing the headphone jack with an all-in-one Lightning connector, which can support Lightning-equipped headphones and has a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter for backwards compatibility. In short, you have to buy a Lightning adapter if you want to use wired headphones, earbuds, or even Apple's own EarPods.

This claim can actually be backed up. Venture Beat noted that in the past four years, the Cupertino-based giant has acquired Beats Electronics, launched Apple Music (even on Android), and opened up its Made for Licensing program to include headphones that uses its Lightning port.

This move makes a lot of sense for Apple. Forbes said by removing the 3.5mm headphone jack, the company can gain control over the last industry standard port on the iPhone, with an increase in revenue as well as great licensing potential.

With the number of dedicated Lightning headphone users in the future, the company can also secure that users can be locked into Apple's own ecosystem.

But could Apple effectively kill the headphone jack? Forbes mentioned that the tech, which is technically called a TRS connector, is not just a standard for Apple but for other gadgets as well: it has been around since 1878 and is said to be the longest-running, most widely accepted technology standard today. Tossing the tech aside just to shave off another 1mm for a phone that many already think is thin enough can be frustrating, and for those who like using premium pairs of headphones and earphones, using them with an adaptor is just plain irritating.

But complaints will not stop Apple. As Venture Beat noted, even though it won't happen with the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7S, the company is definitely looking to kill the headphone jack in order to simplify its devices. After all, this is not the first time that Apple killed technology with their Lightning connector. In 2012, they retired the proprietary 30-pin dock connector effectively.

What do you think of the possibility of Apple replacing the headphone jack with the Lightning connector -- will this be a good thing, or is it unnecessary especially considering that the sole purpose is to make an already thin phone even thinner?