Apple’s acquisition of Beats is raising a lot of questions. With the Apple iPhone 7 just around the corner, some sources are suggesting the company will not only make wireless versions of the EarPods, but they might ditch the headphone jack entirely. Initial buzz claimed that the Cupertino company might be changing the headphone jack for a thinner alternative, but this would change the game completely.
Apple and Samsung Could Press for Widespread Wireless Headphone Use
Wireless headphones are becoming more popular by the day. The headphone jack is becoming more and more obsolete. If the jack-less version of the phones doesn’t come this year, it will eventually. It’s possible Apple and Samsung have already patented a design for this.
This would inevitably force a lot of people to abandon wired headphones. Either that or introduce a headphone alternative that is compatible with Apple’s Lighting connector. This is beneficial to Apple because it can monopolize another aspect of their product, but it could also go sideways. Not everyone is willing to replace their entire audio kit to listen to music on their phone or tablet.
A Slimmer iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7
Getting rid of the headphone jack could potentially make for a slimmer iPhone 7 or Samsung Galaxy S7. Not only that, but it will force the majority of the audio electronics market to change their strategy. Companies will have to immediately start shelling out earphones that support either Bluetooth or whatever alternative Apple or Samsung introduce. As it stands, Bluetooth audio only streams up to CD level quality.
Audio enthusiasts very much prefer wired connections because it guarantees solid, reliable quality sound. It’s probably not a super safe bet for Apple and Samsung to go all jack-less. It’s possible that they release a tester phone that features an alternative. Then they would observe how it performs to consider implementing it into future generations.
There Will Be No Confirmation for Now
There probably won’t be any official announcements regarding the iPhone 7 until September. This is usually the time when Apple announces new smartphones. In the meantime, it’s all speculation. As for the next Samsung Galaxy S7, it’s only a matter of time before we get the official release information.
