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Apple Is Developing Wireless Earbuds For The iPhone 7, Says Report

This article is more than 8 years old.

iPhone 7 Rendering / Image Credit: Handy Abovergleich / Concept by Eric Huisman

Following reports that Apple is ditching the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7, it has now been revealed that the Cupertino giant is working on a new set of wireless earbuds. The wireless earbuds will likely be similar to the Moto Hint -- which looks like the combination of a Bluetooth headset and a hearing aid --  according to Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac.

Apple’s wireless earbuds will have a noise-cancelling microphone system built-in to support phone calls and Siri commands. The new earbuds are completely wireless so there will not be any wires connecting between the left earbud and the right earbud. Gurman also said that the new wireless earbuds are expected to have built-in buttons for managing calls and activating Siri. To fit comfortably inside of the ear, the new wireless buds may have a few ear gel options like the Moto Hint does. The new wireless earbuds will not have ports for charging, but it may have a carrying case that charges up the headphones. Apple will be selling the wireless earbuds separately from the iPhone 7.

In May 2014, Apple acquired Beats Electronics for $3 billion  -- a brand synonymous with building premium wireless headphones. The acquisition also included Beats Music, which was shut down in November 2015 because Apple launched a new Music service with the Beats 1 radio station. To create the new wireless buds, Apple will be using some of the resources from the Beats deal.

Last year, a trademark was filed for “Airpods” by a company called Entertainment In Flight LLC. In October, MacRumors suggested that Entertainment in Flight is a shell company created by Apple to keep the future product name a secret, meaning the new wireless earbuds may actually be called “Airpods.” The name of the existing wired earbuds that come with all iPhones now are called “EarPods.”

Since the iPhone 7 is rumored to be without a 3.5mm headphone jack, the Lightning port will be used for plugging in wired headphones. And Apple has been including wired headphones with the purchase of every iPhone ever since the first-generation of the device so the iPhone 7 is expected to also include earbuds that can be plugged into the Lightning port. Apple added software support for Lightning-connected headphones in iOS 8 last year.

Many audio manufacturers have already started preparing headphones that support Lightning port connections. Some of the third-party headphones that support Lightning includes the Philips Fidelio NC1L, the JBL Reflect Aware and the Audeze EL-8 Titanium. 

What if you want to use your headphones that have a 3.5mm jack with the new iPhone? You might have to buy a 3.5mm to Lightning converter. When the new iPhone is released, Apple and several third party companies will likely start selling a 3.5mm to Lightning converter so wired headphones can still be used. Another option is to buy Bluetooth audio receivers for your headphones like the HDE Wireless Bluetooth receiver, the Breett Bluetooth 4.1 receiver or the Mpow Streambot Mini Bluetooth 4.0 receiver.

By removing the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone, Apple will be able to make the iPhone 7 thinner. This also makes it simpler to make iPhones waterproof. However, many people are angry about the rumored changes and a petition on Sum of Us has been filed called “Keep the standard headphone jack in your iPhones!” Over 250,000 people signed the petition so far. “This is right out of the Apple corporate playbook. A few years ago it swapped out the original iPod-dock connector with a new one, making countless cords, cables and chargers obsolete,” says the petition referring to the transition from the original iPod connectors to the Lightning standard.

What are your thoughts about Apple creating new wireless earbuds and potentially removing the 3.5mm jack from the upcoming iPhone? Please leave a comment!