Rumor suggests the iPhone 7 will discard the earphone jack

There is a new rumor about the next iPhone. It says the phone may not have the usual 3.5 mm earphone jack. The rumor comes from a Japanese site called Mac Otakara. Below we explain what this means in very simple words.

What is a 3.5 mm earphone jack?

The 3.5 mm jack is a tiny round hole. It is used for headphones, earphones, and small speakers. You can find it on many devices: old phones, computers, cars, and even a Walkman from 1987. The hole is called “standard” because almost every brand uses it.

When you plug a headphone into the jack, the sound goes straight from the phone to the earphone. No extra parts are needed.

The rumor: iPhone 7 may lose the jack

Mac Otakara says Apple will remove the 3.5 mm jack from the iPhone 7. Instead, Apple will use its own Lightning connector for earphones. The site also says the new iPhone will be about one millimeter thinner than the iPhone 6s.

Apple already sells Lightning EarPods. The rumor says the iPhone 7 will come with these EarPods and will also support Bluetooth earphones.

If you still want to use old 3.5 mm headphones, you will need a small adapter (also called a dongle) that changes the plug to Lightning.

Why might Apple drop the jack?

Apple has a history of removing old parts to make room for new ideas. Here are a few examples:

• iMac (1998): No floppy drive, but it added USB ports.
• 12‑inch Retina MacBook (2015): Only one USB‑C port and the headphone jack.

Removing the jack can help make the phone thinner. A thinner phone feels nicer in the hand and can fit better in pockets.

Apple also gave MFi certification for Lightning earphones a year ago. This shows Apple was planning for a Lightning‑only audio solution.

How to keep using your old headphones

If the iPhone 7 really drops the jack, you have three simple options:

• Buy a Lightning adapter: Small dongle that lets you plug a 3.5 mm plug into the Lightning port.
• Use Bluetooth headphones: Wireless earphones that connect without any cable.
• Buy Lightning earphones: Apple’s own EarPods or other brands that make Lightning‑compatible plugs.

Adapters are cheap and easy to carry. Bluetooth headphones need to be charged, but they give you no wires at all.

What this could mean for the market

Apple is a very big company. When it changes something, other makers often follow.

For example, the first Android phone, the HTC G1, also did not have a headphone jack. If Apple removes the jack, other phone makers may do the same. This could lead to a bigger market for:

• Lightning or USB‑C earphones.
• Bluetooth headphones.
• Adapters and dongles.

Some people worry that removing the jack will make it harder for cheap headphones to work. Others think it will push innovation and make phones slimmer.

What experts say

MacRumors calls Mac Otakara “usually reliable”. That gives the rumor some weight. MacRumors also notes that Apple has already set up the Lightning audio ecosystem with MFi certification.

Even though rumors are not facts, the pattern of Apple dropping older ports makes this story believable.

FAQ

Will the iPhone 7 definitely not have a 3.5 mm jack?

We cannot be 100 % sure until Apple announces the phone. The rumor is strong, but it is still a rumor.

Do I need to buy new headphones?

No. You can keep your old headphones by using a Lightning‑to‑3.5 mm adapter, or you can switch to Bluetooth or Lightning earphones.

Will the phone be thinner because of this change?

The rumor says the iPhone 7 will be about one millimeter thinner than the iPhone 6s. Removing the jack helps save space.

Is this the first time Apple removed a common port?

Yes. Apple removed the floppy drive from iMacs, and later removed many ports from the 12‑inch MacBook, leaving only a headphone jack and a USB‑C port.

Conclusion

In short, a reliable Japanese site says the iPhone 7 may drop the classic 3.5 mm earphone jack. Apple could do this to make the phone thinner and to push its Lightning and Bluetooth audio options. If the change happens, you can still use old headphones with a cheap adapter, or you can buy new Lightning or Bluetooth earphones. Only Apple can confirm the plan, but the rumor fits a pattern we have seen before. Stay tuned for the official announcement.