Apple's iPhone 7 is expected to launch in 2016, bringing a new design and new features. (Photo : Facebook)
Rumors have emerged Apple is set on dropping the upcoming iPhone 7's headphone jack to come up with an even thinner design.
Japanese tech website, Macotakara has said a reliable industry source disclosed the information over the Cupertino-based company's plans to unveil a slimmer iPhone 7 by doing away with the smartphone's standard headphone jack.
Apple has only recently revealed its latest flagship, the iPhone 6s and its companion phone, the iPhone 6s Plus in September, and already it appears to be readying the handsets' successor.
With the current models measuring 7.1mm for the iPhone 6s, and 7.3mm for the iPhone 6s Plus, the company is said to be looking into shaving off "more than a millimeter," Express UK writes.
The slimmer iPhone 7 will reportedly feature the absence of the 3.5mm headphone jack considered a world standard for all current smartphones in order to achieve an even more streamlined design.
To enable users to listen to audio, Apple is looking into EarPod accessories for the iPhone 7. The EarPods will plug into the phone's Lightning connector with a built-in Digital to Analog (DA) converter.
As the standard Lightning port is currently dedicated for charging purposes, Macotakara's source did not specify how Apple is planning to deal with utilizing the port for audio while the phone is charging.
While the headphone jack-less iPhone 7 remains a rumor, the New York Daily News has published speculations headphone company, Beats, which Apple acquired last year from its founder, rapper, Dr. Dre, may be tapped into producing new Lightning port-compatible accessories in preparation for the iPhone 7.
However, other headphone manufacturers, such as Sennheiser and Bose are likely to supply the third-party accessories, as well.
iPhone users can opt to use their Bluetooth headphones, which will reportedly be compatible with the new headphone jack-less iPhone 7.
However, users who do not own a wireless Bluetooth headset, or prefer not to use EarPods will be left with the option to either buy a new headset, or purchase an adapter to enable their existing 3.5mm earphones' compatibility with the iPhone 7's Lightning port.
It remains unclear whether the EarPods will come free with the handset package, or be sold as separate accessories when the iPhone 7 is released in the fall of 2016, based on Apple's timeline.
