Smartphones are getting slimmer every year and the only factor that is stopping them from going even further is the standard 3.5mm headphone jack. Now, we have heard reports of some OEMs planning to remove the headphone jack and bring down the thickness of a smartphone further, but this comes from reliable sources and claims to do away with the audio jack altogether.
MacOtakara, a Japanese blog, seems to have got reliable insider news that Apple may be dropping the 3.5mm headphone jack and instead will be making the lightning port an audio jack. The move stems from the fact that phones are getting more compact these days and hence the need to cut some slab off them.
As a result, iPhone 7 could become 1mm thinner than the iPhone 6s, the report states.
Of course, Apple will bundle new set of headphones compatible with the new technology, but at the same time, this means that if you have to use older headphones, be prepared to buy a new adapter for 3.5mm port to lightning port conversion. This year, Philips had launched lightning port-equipped headphones for the iOS devices and considering this, we could see other manufacturers getting into the business and opening new possibilities.
And just like USB-C port, this could be one of the features that all new smartphones may adopt. A audio jack is already 3.5mm on the inside and along with the casing and cover, the width easily increases to nearly 5mm more more. So, due to this audio jack, phones cannot get any thinner. With lightning port being flat 1.5mm thick, it will be much easier for smartphone manufacturers to reduce the thickness of the phone.
But do we really need this change?
But somehow, this is not an exciting news to me. Imagine you’re low on battery and you have to charge your iPhone. But you also want to listen to some songs, how are you going to do it? Yes, checkmate. So next time you’re travelling or just having coffee with listening to your favourite songs, make sure your iPhone is charged or else you will be out of luck. Unless you’re using Bluetooth headphones, then don’t worry at all. But dual-purpose lightning port on an iPhone? Maybe not so much enticing.
VIVO X5 MAX is the thinnest phone in the world right now, measuring at 4.75mm with all high-end features. VIVO has kept the 3.5mm headphone jack intact with the phone. So, do you want the next iPhone to go slimmer? Does a phone have to be razor sharp ‘literally’ to look good? All the ergonomics backfire if the phone is not comfortable enough in the hand.
In the end, customers end up getting chunky covers which defeats the whole point of a thin smartphone. I don’t know what engineering goes into making a phone thin, but removing a headphone jack might not be the best practice.
It will be exciting to see the next generation of iPhones next year. Tell us your thoughts about the rumour in the comment section below.
Senseless move! As rightly pointed in article, people anyways use mobile cases.