Will you buy a new iPhone despite no headphone socket?

[Audio_ELF]

As the topic; specifically based on the headphone socket (or lack of).

[bkinbk]

I find the exclusion of the analog headphone jack annoying, but iPhone and iTunes lost me long ago when it comes to serious music listening. I can imagine using crappy Bluetooth headphones for when I'm on the go and the dongle for when I'm flying. I use the PONO in the car anyway. I'm curious to hear other thoughts and see if I'm not thinking of certain use cases.

[bkinbk]

Speaking of a negative use case, I just saw this:

 

It's exactly those wireless ear buds, however, that Jobs might have taken issue with. "Steve Jobs once argued with me about doing wireless earbuds," The Verge's Walt Mossberg recalled. "'You want yet another thing to charge?' he said."

 

Mossberg added that Apple's new wireless headphones, or "AirPods," which run $159, will indeed be annoying to charge. "Five hours of battery life between charges on the new AirPods won't likely get you through a cross country flight ..."

[CatManDo]

My correct answer would be "No, because I'm not spending 600€ or more on a smartphone, so no latest iPhone for me".

 

I have a 300€ Android smartphone (that I also use for outdoor music listening), but I'm not an "Android fan".

[mordante]

I never use headphones on my phone. There are far to many walking zombies on the streets already. Staring at their phone, wearing head phones. Totally oblivious to their surroundings.

 

Urban zombies.

[Cebolla]

Not really an Android 'fan' either (as a reluctant nanny device user - warranty running out in order to root it can never come too soon), but gets my vote as the most appropriate choice.

[Melvin]

Rarely do I use headphones with my iPhone unless I'm traveling so the included dongle is good enough for me.

[Jay-dub]

 

Mossberg added that Apple's new wireless headphones, or "AirPods," which run $159, will indeed be annoying to charge. "Five hours of battery life between charges on the new AirPods won't likely get you through a cross country flight ..."

 

You definitely don't want to use those on a cross country flight. Noise canceling, or at least closed over the ear headphones, are called for.

 

The cords are really one of the most annoying things about the ear buds - they tangle so easily. For a lot of use cases the wireless version will just be more practical.

 

I don't see the loss of the jack as a big deal. Keep the dongle attached to your favorite wired earphones, and the lightning will be easier to attach and detach than the headphone jack ever was. Or keep your favorite USB DAC/headphones connected to the camera connector 3, and you can charge the phone while listening whenever convenient.

 

That said, I don't want another phone with this large thin form factor and rounded edges. After a year with my iPhone 6, I am still constantly dropping it, and I accidentally turn off the screen when I try to adjust volume since the button has been moved to the side. Most annoying iOS device I've ever used.

[Axiom05]

I bought an iPhone 6S before the rumored iPhone 7 came out to keep the headphone jack. Not ready to start dealing with new purchases in order to access the new technologies, I'll take a wait and see position for now. I still don't see the point to dropping the headphone jack. A lot of this seems like change for the sake of change, something to grab the headlines. But that's just me...

[qdwieertteyrujpo]

My answer is a simple "No". Ardent Apple fanatic, but that does not mean I have to buy the latest gadget when it comes out. I am using headphones a lot with my iPhone (Grado GR10), but I just wait and see. Dragonfly looks interesting, but a bit cumbersome to carry around at this point in time.

I guess over time a smart solution for the "non headphone jack" will come out; until then I am happy with my iPhone 6.

[realhifi]

It's not a deal breaker for me even though I am not looking to upgrade from the 6S I am using now. When at gym or exercising (running, walking) I would love to get rid of the stupid wire that connects my phone to my earbuds so I'll just get some wireless when it's time for me to upgrade my phone. With Bluetooth 5 coming we'll see a much better experience utilizing wireless headphones anyway. Apple is just looking ahead.

[marksas3]

Tough call, I've been through every iteration of the iPhone, but my issue is...when driving I use the headphone jack to Aux port for music and the Lightning port for charging at the same time, so at this point not sure how to deal with this. Also when flying abroad on long flights I might use headphones while also using a battery charger at the same time.

I believe this is not only change for sake of change because Apple has proven they 'can' do it, but also gets people to buy more accessories like the Airbuds, and then different charging options etc etc...I can't tell you how many lightning cables I've gone through because they either just stop working or fray at the ends. Can't say I've ever had a mini USB cable stop working on other devices though.

[blownsi]

The jack is not a gamechanger for me because I use a dragonfly anyhow. With that said, no I will not buy the 7 simply because the announced changes offer zero value to me. If it was offered in a larger screen with a mini pencil, I'd be standing in line. Yes I have a 6S+ and I still think the screen is too small. It's really more of the aspect ratio than physical size, what I mean by that is that I have to use it turned sideways for most of my tasks.

[chilledbongo]

No because no phone is worth $700. Rarely ever use ear buds. And I've never comprehended Apple fanaticism.

 

Sent from my SM-T810 using Computer Audiophile mobile app

[hornytoad]

I used to buy every new iPhone that came out but now there are no carrier price subsidies and the phone price has gotten much higher .

I will wait for the next product cycle or the one after that . Just too expensive for a smartphone .

 

My attitude is precisely why Apple sales have been weakening .

[orgel]

My choice isn't available, but it would be: "I use an external DAC, but I'm not on this upgrade cycle. I'll most likely buy another iPhone when the 7s is released a year or so from now."

 

I'm really happy with my current setup. The DragonFly Black makes more of a difference in SQ than I'd imagined when I purchased it based on Chris's review.

 

I don't expect much audio improvement (via headphones) from the 6s to the 7, so my main expectation for the future is that the quality of the camera will continue to improve. I think the quality of the photos I take with the iPhone 6 is already quite good, and I'm hopeful that my the time the 7s rolls around, the dual-camera system used in the 7 Plus will be included in the "small" 7s.

 

--David

[Audio_ELF]

I guess I should have prefixed the poll with "If you were in the market for a new phone..."

 

I'm unlikely to buy one either ... but I think for my needs the dongle would be sufficient.

[AnotherSpin]

I still remember the time when newly released mac computer missed the floppy drive. Many believed Apple went very wrong direction that day.

[davide256]

I don't view any wireless phone as an audiophile device... they are lifestyle enhancers. Give me a cordless bluetooth connection and a decent headphone for drs office waits, travel or exercise and I'm happy.

[GregWormald]

After spending good money on good headphones, and ensuring my files are lossless why would I want to use Bluetooth and the inevitable lossy compression?

 

I don't think Steve Jobs would have approved this particular change as he was known as an audiophile.

 

Greg

[Moosbrugger]

Curious -- is the sound quality of wireless headphones supposed to be the same as wired? Assuming the connection is working fine?

 

(And as to the poll -- I note that Apple is selling $9 adapters to plug old headphone jacks into the lightening port of the iPhone 7. Assuming the adapter works, it's a pretty small price relative to the phone.)

[jerico]

I'm not interested in the phone, but curious if using the dongle means you can't charge at the same time? Like if I am sitting at my desk and want to listen through headphones, would I need to run down the charge?

[Jay-dub]

Tough call, I've been through every iteration of the iPhone, but my issue is...when driving I use the headphone jack to Aux port for music and the Lightning port for charging at the same time, so at this point not sure how to deal with this. Also when flying abroad on long flights I might use headphones while also using a battery charger at the same time.

You get one of the new camera adapters that has a Lightning plug on one side and a USB jack and Lightning jack on the other side. The USB goes to a portable DAC such as the Dragonfly and thence to the aux port, and the Lightning to your power supply (cigarette lighter USB adapter or whatever). I'd be surprised if some other solutions don't also come on the market soon, such as a dongle with a headphone jack and a Lightning jack, or a headphone jack and a USB plug.

[Pat Case]

I already use the lightening receptacle on my iPhone 5 to listen to music in my car. With the exception of a brief comparative exercise with a Pono, I've never used my iPhone with headphones.

[Rt66indierock]

I'm going to buy an iPhone 7 and use lighting headphones. Then I'm going to test wireless headphones with the W1 chip when I find a pair that fit in my ear.