There was a hue and cry when Apple confirmed that there will be no 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus devices. However, they saved themselves by including Lightning and Bluetooth headphones with the device. These are expensive headphones when compared to the 3.5mm jack headphones. Apple has a reason why they removed the traditional headphones and here are the three main reasons that they put across.
- The lightning dongle can be used on older iPhone versions
- The Lightning dongle also frees up memory space which can be used for other apps and tech
- The lightning dongle gives better audio quality than the 3.5mm jack headphones
Therefore all iPhone 7 models will have a pair of Lightning ear buds and an adaptor for traditional 3.5mm jacks included in the box.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a lightning headphone?
There are mixed feelings among iPhone enthusiast about the removal of the traditional 3.5mm jack headphones, but one really needs to look at some of the advantages and disadvantages that come with the new Lightning technology to appreciate this development.
The disadvantages
- The technology will make the existing headphones redundant among iPhone users
- The new Lightning ear buds and third-party headphones are quite expensive
- The older 3.5mm jack headphones are standard for many different models of Smartphones and will therefore be around for a long while. People who own other devices do not have to pay extra when they upgrade to newer versions, but for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus owners, this will be part of the cost.
The advantages
- Apple has a good reason why they are doing away with the 3.5mm jack headphones. By doing so, Apple has been able to free up more space within the device, which they say has been used for adding other tech. This is their way of moving away from the analog standard used by most phone manufacturers and embracing a digital alternative for a better quality audio experience. The move will also help them sell more of the Beats headphones.
- The digital alternatives that Apple is embracing come with some benefits too. The quality of audio that comes from using the Lightning technology is much better than that which comes from using the 3.5mm jack headphones. This has been true when it comes to using he Lightning headphone, but this time, Apple is making the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus owners stick to this choice.
The removal of the 3.5mm jack headphones may mark the start of the end of this headphone in future iPhone versions. Many seem to be applauding Apple for taking such a courageous step, while others have other views. Users should see this as a step at bringing them a better sounding experience when listening to audio files. This is basically something that users will acknowledge and appreciate in the long-term but for the short-term there are a lot of grumblings due to the limitations users are experiencing. When looking for an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 plus, you should bear this in mind.
Let us know what you think, in the comment section – are the lightning headphones a better deal than 3.5 mm headphone jack?
