SAN FRANCISCO—Apple’s latest iPhone may be more notable for what’s missing from previous models than what’s being added. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus unveiled Wednesday won’t have an analog headphone jack—a longtime staple in just about every consumer electronics device that can play audio.
In doing so, Apple is betting that its legions of loyal fans will embrace the shift to wireless headphones—or, if they insist on sticking with their old ways, that they won’t mind using earbuds that plug into the iPhone’s power port, or older headsets in conjunction with a new adapter.
The redesigned earbuds—with cord—will be included with the new iPhones. Also in the box: an adapter consisting of two plugs connected by a short length of cable, which will connect older headphones to the charging port.
[gallery size=“medium” ids=“2152216,2152217,2152218,2152220,2152221,2152223,2152224,2152225,2152226,2152227,2152230,2152231,2152232,2152233,2152235,2152236,2152237,2152238,2152240,2152241,2152242,2152243,2152244,2152246,2152247,2152248,2152249,2152251,2152252,2152253,2152256,2152257,2152258,2152259,2152274,2152275,2152277”]
THE WIRELESS FUTURE LOOMS
But Apple is trying to push consumers to cut the cord with their headphones and make the leap into what it envisions as a “wireless future.”
“The reason to move on is courage,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. “The courage to move on and do something new that will benefit all of us.”
As part of the transition, Apple also is introducing wireless “AirPods” that will sell for $160.
Getting rid of the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack helped Apple make its new iPhone slimmer, boost its battery lifetime and add other improvements, including stereo speakers and a sharper camera. The iPhone 7 is also water resistant, a popular feature that rivals such as Samsung Electronics already have been offering.
Apple is trying to reverse its first decline in iPhone sales since the company’s late founder, Steve Jobs, unveiled the trendsetting device in 2007.
