iPhone 7 News and Rumors: New Phone Will Replace Headphones with Lightning Earpods

By Jenn Loro - 15 Apr '16 06:54AM

Apple's forthcoming handset flagship, iPhone 7 and its 7 Plus variant, are reportedly slated for release in the second half of the year- more likely around fall. However, its prospective features are currently being discussed in rumor land with speculations indicating that Bluetooth-enabled EarPods with Lightning Connector will replace the 3.5mm headphone jack.

As reported by Express UK, leaked images from unconfirmed insider sources seem to prove the swirling rumor about the Cupertino-based tech giant ditching the 3.55mm headphone jack in favor of EarPod headphones matched with a Lightning Connector.

The rumors further suggest the inclusion of a noise-cancelling technology because the Lightning port is purportedly capable of charging and sending audio signals simultaneously without adding extra weight and size. According to Apple Insider, the EarPods will also shift to being 100% wireless by incorporating Bluetooth technology that will connect through Lightning.

There are other speculations that may point to the possibility of importing the Smart Connector technology from iPad Pro to the next iPhone used mainly for keyboard and other external accessories.

The incoming flagship might also have a dual camera bump in the upper left. This claim may sound dubious as there are other competing claims suggesting that a camera bump is extremely unlikely given Apple's relentless effort to make its devices chic-looking and ultrathin.

Lastly, the next iPhone is expected to see the addition of two new mysterious sensors at the top with an unknown purpose. Some tech pundits speculate that this could be an indication that Apple is borrowing True Tone display from i9.7-inch iPad Pro.

"True Tone display support, which adjusts the display to match the temperature of the ambient lighting in a room, could be added to the iPhone if Apple 'upgrades the ambient light sensors so they measure color in addition to brightness'," wrote Juli Clover as reported by MacRumors.

In a separate roundup elsewhere, HTC 10 appeared to have just beaten Apple for key innovations in smartphone technology after its recent launching with impressive camera, enhanced internal processor, biometric scanner, wide angle selfie camera armed with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and a much cleaner version of Android Marshmallow.