The iPhone, Apple's signature product, has had a standard 3.5mm headphone jack since its introduction in 2007. But according to a new report, the next generation of the phone will only connect to headphones through its Lightning port or wirelessly over Bluetooth.
In a story about Apple developing a new Bluetooth in-ear version of Beats to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 7, 9to5Mac reported the news following long-standing rumors.
Sources familiar with Apple's plans confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the company does indeed have a version of the iPhone 7 on which the 3.5mm jack has been replaced by a Lightning port.
The news is reminiscent of when Apple changed charging ports in 2012 and rendered previous charging cables useless or unwieldy, requiring bulky adapters. It has already led to a petition of over 200,000 people protesting the end of standard headphone connection for the iPhone.
People on social media expressed their outrage:
.@Apple has lost the plot. Make a billion dollars w new headphone jacks at customer and environmental expense? Sure. https://t.co/7aGgSeevX8
New iphone 7 loses headphone jack AND requires wireless headphone? NOW is the time i get a windows phone.
No headphone jack means bye bye iphone for me. I use that too much
Apple declined to comment for this story.