New iPhone Headphone Jack: The Design You Haven’t Seen!

Apple isn’t afraid to throw away ubiquitous technology to make way for thinner devices. In 2008, Apple ditched the DVD drive on the MacBook Air. In 2012, Apple nixed the 30-pin dock connector cable when they released the iPhone 5 with the Lightning cable – but they sold an adapter. Rumors about a new, smaller iPhone headphone jack have been circulating for months. In my opinion, it’s not a matter of whether Apple will release a new headphone jack – it’s a matter of when.

New iPhone Headphone Jacks: Three Possibilities

Last year, several websites released images from an Apple patent for a smaller, D-shaped headphone jack (shown here). I did some digging and discovered that less than one month later, Apple filed a second patent for a new headphone jack that looks a lot more “Apple” than the images you may have already seen.

In this article, I’ll cover the three possibilities for the future of iPhone headphone jacks as I see them: The D-shaped connector you’ve probably seen, the Dual orientation connector with side contacts you probably haven’t seen, and getting rid of the headphone jack altogether.

Patent #1: D-shaped Connector

Apple’s patent for a D-shaped headphone jack was widely reported upon last year, with many experts speculating that the iPhone 7 will feature this design. In the patent, Apple takes the headphone jack we all know and love, and cuts it in half.

This doesn’t feel very “Apple” to me. I’ve never seen Apple take a current piece of technology and simply cut it in half. Perhaps more importantly, it’s ugly. Apple doesn’t do ugly.

On the next page, I’ll show you the second Apple patent I mentioned. It’s for a dual-orientation headphone jack, and the design looks very familiar.

Patent #2: Dual orientation connector with side contacts

On June 20, 2011, just a few weeks after they filed the first patent, Apple filed a patent called Dual orientation connector with side contacts. I’ve highlighted a few sections of the patent abstract that I feel are very interesting:

The present disclosure relates generally to connectors such as audio connectors and in particular to a dual orientation audio connector with side audio contacts that can be used in place of standard audio connectors. The connector has an intuitive insertion orientation and a smooth, consistent feel when inserted and extracted from its corresponding receptacle connector. A corresponding connector jack may be configured to receive the dual orientation audio connector.

Intuitive insertion orientation? Smooth, consistent feel when inserted and extracted? Whoa, Apple – let’s keep it clean!

In the patent, Apple shows the current iPhone headphone jack alongside a micro-USB headphone jack version that was developed by other companies to demonstrate their shortcomings:

Apple includes several drawings of the new headphone connector:

The patent shows a connector with reversible left / right audio channels and connections for a microphone and ground:

Apple also demonstrates what the headphone jack might look like on an iPhone or other device:

Any way you slice it, this connector looks and feels a lot more “Apple” than patent #1. It looks like the natural companion to the Lightning cable. I’m betting on this design for the next iPhone headphone jack.

On the next page, we’ll talk about when Apple will decide to ditch the headphone jack entirely, how you’ll be able to use your current headphones with the iPhone 7, and I’ll share my predictions for what the headphone jack will look like on the next iPhone.

Option 3: Ditch The Headphone Jack

Do I think Apple will get rid of the iPhone headphone jack eventually? Absolutely. Do I think they will get rid of it now? Absolutely not.

Apple isn’t afraid to ruffle the feathers of their customers, but they’re not stupid. It will be hard enough to convince people to buy adapters for their headphones, let alone give them up entirely. Given the choice between a phone that has a headphone jack and a phone that doesn’t, a lot of people might jump ship.

There’s another huge advantage to using wired headphones: They don’t run on batteries, so they never need to be charged.

Will I Be Able To Use My Headphones With The iPhone 7?

Well that’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? I think the answer is definitely yes – with an adapter. Apple even includes a drawing for what looks like it could be an adapter in the patent for the dual-orientation headphone jack.

Apple is really good at letting you buy adapters for just about everything: MagSafe to MagSafe 2, 30-pin Dock Connector Cable to Lightning Cable, Lightning Cable to Micro USB (Thanks EU!), Thunderbolt to… you get my drift.

My Prediction

Here’s what I think will happen: Apple will release a new headphone jack with the iPhone 7 and will simultaneously release a $10 adapter to allow current headphones to work with the new headphone jack. I’ll go further out on a limb and say the iPhone 7 will include new Bluetooth Earpods that will also be available for purchase for $49.

Disclaimer: I may be 100% wrong about all of this.

What Do You Think?

Apple is famously secret about their plans for new devices. Right now, someone is asking an Apple Store Specialist, “When is the iPhone 7 coming out?” The truth is that Apple Store employees don’t know any more about upcoming Apple products than you or me. But it doesn’t hurt to guess!

I’d like to hear your thoughts on these questions in the comments section below:

• Will Apple release a new headphone jack?
• What will the new iPhone headphone jack look like? Patent #2, or something else?
• What will Apple call the new headphone jack? (Think Lightning cable, MagSafe, EarPods, etc.)

Thanks for reading, and remember to pay it forward,
David P.
All images sourced from Google Patents.