iPhone 7 - No headphone jack

[Dolphster]

I'm old, I consider myself high tech for even having headphones on at the gym.  Blue tooth completely evades me.   

[Phishfan]

Samsung seems to be making the move as well.

[Dolphster]

I don't see this as a huge issue. If you want the phone you have to upgrade and if you don't want it then you can keep what you have. Recent history has shown that technology changes rapidly and in no time everyone will have bluetooth or wifi headphones/earphones and no one will think twice about.

Don't rush me, I only upgraded from a flip phone 2 years ago.   

[Dave Gray]

Apparently, Apple includes a dongle with the iPhone 7 that allows you to plug in standard headphones.  Of course, you wouldn't be able to charge the phone while doing so, as the phone only has one lightning port.  To charge and listen to headphones at the same time, you'll need this $40 adapter that is made for Apple by Belkin, and will be sold in all Apple stores.

I think that if you're the kind of person that plans on regularly listening to wired headphones while charging, that this probably isn't the best phone for you.  I'm considering moving towards bluetooth headphones with my next set, but I don't think I'll go with just the pods.  I want something that connects the two, so I don't lose them.

[fyo]

^ All the bluetooth headphones I've tried have produced lousy audio. Granted, it's been a few years and there are probably exceptions somewhere.

[Phishfan]

^ All the bluetooth headphones I've tried have produced lousy audio. Granted, it's been a few years and there are probably exceptions somewhere.

When Beats is pricing their headphones at $300, I expect they have a pretty good quality but I haven't tried them.

[Brian Fein]

Apple didn't do this to be ground breaking or revolutionary.  They did it for convenience.

The audio jack typically requires 7.5mm of thickness to implement in a device.  The iPhone7 is 7mm thick.  So, in order to incorporate it in the package, they would have had to make compromises:
- have a bump-out for the jack and jack interface similar to what you currently see in the camera area of most thin devices
- re-design the barrel and support structure and potentially risk reliability in accessory drop condition or potential disconnect issues, causing customer dissatisfiers.

In its arrogance, Apple assumed people would evolve into not needing it, and provided an option to use it for those who didn't.  Its a compromise with the users - you want a thin phone, you have to give something up.  BlackBerry considered removing it in Priv, a device with a similar thickness, but we were able to develop a concept to make it work.

Eventually, all headphones will be bluetooth.  Now is not that time, but moves like this will accelerate that initiative.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

People who use the headphone jack AT ALL...

Of those, how many use the jack while the phone is charging? I'm going to guess not a lot. The 33% of my household dropped to zero and a quick query 'round the office produced the same result.

Much ado about nothing.

Could be a fair number.  Folks who like to charge their phone while driving (and listening to music) and folks who like to fall asleep while listening to music (and who charge their phone overnight).

[Spider-Dan]

The audio jack typically requires 7.5mm of thickness to implement in a device.  The iPhone7 is 7mm thick.  So, in order to incorporate it in the package, they would have had to make compromises:

Incorrect.  The iPhone 6s (7.1mm) and 6s+ (7.3mm) are exactly the same thickness as the 7 and 7+, yet the former have headphone jacks.

[Cathal]

It's just Apple being Apple. They'll make changes and people will buy them. Audiophiles will more than likely have issues with the quality from a set of bluetooth earbuds.

[Phishfan]

^^^ I doubt it. Audiophiles will have decent earphones, not just standard buds. People who think they are an audiophile will have issues with the quality of the cheap earbuds though.

[pondwater]

When Beats is pricing their headphones at $300, I expect they have a pretty good quality but I haven't tried them.

I don't care what they price out at. Beats suck donkey balls. I mean they're better than generic units. But overall for the money there are much better headphones out there. Throw a rappers name on them, make the box pretty, and all the kids and posers will buy them and brag about their Dr. Dre Beats. Typical marketing bullshit. Happens a lot with guitars and amps too. Gotta laugh at people who severely overpay for barely mediocre products, haha

[Phishfan]

^^^ I've never used them so I don't know, I just knew they were popular. You can substitute Beats with another company and the statement will read the same.

[Dave Gray]

I try not to lose my shit over stuff like Beats.  I think of it as jewelry.  It's a tech product, but it's also a wearable status symbol.  People overpay for similar watches, sunglasses, etc. all the time. 

I'm not gonna buy Beats, because I don't care, personally, but I don't begrudge anyone that does.

[pondwater]

I try not to lose my shit over stuff like Beats.  I think of it as jewelry.  It's a tech product, but it's also a wearable status symbol.  People overpay for similar watches, sunglasses, etc. all the time. 

I'm not gonna buy Beats, because I don't care, personally, but I don't begrudge anyone that does.

I'll agree to a point. However, usually when you pay a premium for a watch like a Omega or Rolex, you're getting premium quality in most cases. Beats is a whole different beast though. Kind of like those $40 gold plated Monster brand HDMI cables that works no better than a $4 HDMI from monoprice. Like they say, an fool and his money are soon parted, haha. Anyhow, back to topic......