Information has been recently released at the launch event that the new iPhone7 will be released without an audio jack. With the loss of the audio jack, two other options come to surface. One option is to use a lightning port that attaches to the charging plug of the iPhone. The other option is to use the wireless set of earbuds that Apple released with the phone: the AirPods. Unlike the lightning port, the AirPods will come out separately from the iPhone 7.
The Apple AirPods include many features that separate it from the standard, wired earbuds. One feature is the W1 chip. The chip makes the pairing of the iPhone 7 and the Air Pods almost instantaneous. Another feature of the AirPods is it enhances the connection and interaction with Siri. Instead of taking out the phone to ask Siri, the person only needs to double tap one of the pods and talk to Siri.
Despite these advantages, there a few inconveniences as well. One major disadvantage is the appearance of the air pods. The exterior has faced much criticism and mockery from the general public. The appearance has been compared to many objects such as hair dryers, toothbrushes, and “Snoopy.”
Another observed disadvantage is the safekeeping of the air pods. Many twitter users tweet that they have already lost air pods at the Apple Event.
In addition to making profit, Apple has other reasons for the abandonment of the audio jack. The main reason is to free up space in the iPhone. The excess space is used for the new compartments in the iPhone 7, such as: the upgraded camera, the A10 fusion chip which allows processing to run twice as fast, and stereo speakers.
According to Yahoo Tech, Apple is not the only company that wishes for the audio jack to be gone. The second reason Apple pushes the use of AirPods is to push beyond wired headphone technology. The 3.5mm audio jack was a part of technology that’s been used since the 19th century.
Apple marketing chief, Phil Schiller states at the iPhone 7 launch event, “Maintaining an ancient, single-purpose, analogue, and big connector doesn’t make sense because that space is at a premium.” It is very possible that the Apple AirPods are only just a beginning to the arising wireless audio technology.