Across the internet many websites are claiming the next iPhone, the iPhone 7 won’t have a headphone jack. And now there’s another rumour that the lightning port is history. This will make the next iPhone waterproof. 

The loss of the headphone jack is making people panic that all their headphones will suddenly become obsolete. That’s totally wrong. Or is it?

Firstly, remember these are only rumours. Apple has not confirmed anything so this may be pie in the sky. Secondly, it could be rumours spread by Apple to test the public reaction.

Let’s look at the headphone jack first. 

Apple won’t be the first company to remove the headphone jack. Oppo sells the Oppo R5 which is 4.85mm thick and is too thin for a headphone jack. It comes with a bluetooth accessory that allows you to connect your current headphones into. The little adapter can also be used to operate the camera shutter remotely.

So Apple could very easily provide this little bluetooth accessory or simply include bluetooth headphones that would need to be recharged from the iPhone. Or you could buy right now the Philips Fidelio M2L Hi-Res Headphones with Lightning Connector . That’s right the Philips Fidelio are Hi-Res Audio headphones that connect via the lightning port. So the other option is Apple provides wired headphones that connect via the lightning port and or a lightning port to 3.5mm headphone adapter.

Of course bluetooth headphones are another option and with the advancements in new bluetooth Hi-Res Audio codecs, most people won’t notice the difference. All it will mean is another device to charge at night. That’s why mains charging devices like the [Most Compact 10-Port USB Charger] Anker PowerPort 10 (60W 10-Port Charging Station) Wall Charger for iPhone 6 / 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 / mini 3, Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge, Other Apple and Android Devices and More (Black) are becoming so popular and needed. I actually have this 10 port adapter too.

The final aspect of this lightning port is the audio quality is digital out as opposed to analogue via the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack and therefore better quality sound is possible via the lightning port. I am personally already using the lightning port as the preferred method of listening to my music. I simply connect up an external DAC via this way and plug my headphones into the external DAC. As an example you could use a Chord Electronics Mojo Headphone Amplifier / DAC or Oppo – HA-2 but with both of these options, additional cost is created.

All I can hope is Apple provide a solution in the box for people to be able to use their existing headphones without losing the sound quality that is available directly from a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack.

But this theory could be thrown in the bin if the lightning port goes too. 

If Apple removed the lightning port all headphones would need to be wireless, probably using Bluetooth. But how would you recharge the phone? Wireless charging technology which already exists. This would make the iPhone 7 waterproof. 

Personally, I reckon only the headphone jack removal is possible, but what do you think?