Could We See The Death Of The Headphone Jack?

Will we witness the death of the 100-year-old 3.5 mm standard headphone jack? With all of the buzz and anticipation for the upcoming iPhone 7, one can assume there have been and will be many rumors associated with its release and its new technology. Evidence is mounting that this particular rumor is true.

First reason to think so is that, in its quest to create ever thinner iPhones, iPads and Macs, Apple has obtained a patent to cut the 3.5mm headphone jack and the less common 2.5mm variant down into a slimmer ‘D’ shape.

The Patent (No. 9,142,925) was discovered by AppleInsider and sports all the same functionality as the standard 2.5mm and 3.5mm TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) connector, plus a flexible inner core to reinforce the reduced structural integrity. In short: it should work just like a normal 3.5mm/2.5mm headphone jack. But that dos not necessarily mean that Apple is going to use this technology in the near future.

Some other rumors say Apple plans for its headphones to connect through blue tooth, or through the lightning port — the connection port introduced with the release of the iPhone 5. The first major benefit this change will bring is the superior quality of sound attainable through the lightning port. It is more powerful than its predecessor, and would allow manufacturers to put amplifiers directly into the headphones, boosting overall sound quality.

With this change, Apple will be forcing companies to focus on the use and improvement of Bluetooth devices, and this means no cords interrupting our daily commute or workouts. Wireless headphones would also be compatible with other apple products, like the Apple watch and Apple TV.

Improved quality and wireless convenience aside, the change will also allow for a larger screen and a sleeker design, basically 1mm thinner than the current model.

What does this mean for you?

While some of you may have no room for compromise, it may set the standard of comfort, convenience, and quality to a whole new level. Apple has proven that risks do reap reward, and companies and consumers alike have always been willing to adapt to change.

We will continue to adapt to change within the improving Apple technology, so contact us for all of your Apple repairs.