Apple probably isn't going to release wireless 'AirPods' with the iPhone 7
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That's already causing some outrage, with Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak saying that "if it's missing the 3.5 mm earphone jack, that's going to tick off a lot of people."
So how will headphones work with the iPhone 7? There are two competing rumours. One rumour that's circulating right now is that Apple is going to encourage manufacturers to make earphones that plug into the Lightning port. You can actually buy some already if you fancy them.
But the other rumour is that Apple is going to ditch the headphone port AND introduce its own range of wireless earphones called AirPods that connect to your phone using Bluetooth. The Telegraph says that "iPhone 7 to come with wireless 'AirPods' after Apple ditches headphone jack."
However, the evidence for Apple AirPods coming any time soon isn't particularly convincing. Of course, we don't actually know what's coming in the iPhone 7 until Apple's event on September 7, but here's why AirPods are unlikely to arrive this month:
There's no evidence that AirPods actually exist
Apple's manufacturing process takes place all over the world, involving designers in the US and factories in China and Ireland. If AirPods are coming with the iPhone 7 then we would probably have seen some evidence that they've been developed. We've already seen supposed pre-production models of the new iPhone, but there haven't been any leaks showing AirPods.
The only evidence for AirPods actually existing is a registration with the Eurasian Economic Union for wireless headphones called "AirPods."
The name has been around since 2015
Apple Insider points out that the registration for the AirPods name has existed since 2015. A company that may or may not be connected with Apple registered "AirPods" in connection with wireless headphones. Apple doesn't always register trademarks itself - it often uses external companies to mask what it's really doing.
It's a really big step for Apple
The decision to drop the headphone jack is already causing controversy. Steve Wozniak spoke out about it, and The Verge published an article titled "Taking the headphone jack off phones is user-hostile and stupid."
If Apple does drop the headphone jack, people are going to be outraged. And if Apple drops the headphone jack AND introduces an entirely new type of earphone at the same time, well, that's going to be a massive change.
Apple prefers to take things slowly to get customers on board with an idea before doing something radically new. Take TouchID, the technology that lets you unlock your iPhone with your fingerprint. That was introduced slowly, and then used to let people pay for items on their phone as well using Apple Pay.
The rumour has come at the perfect time
So if AirPods aren't coming with the iPhone 7, why does everyone think they are? In short: It's perfect timing for this rumour to spread. People are outraged over the supposed removal of the headphone jack, and the registration of the trademark has caught people's attention.
It's actually pretty likely that Apple is looking at wireless earphones, but it seems way too early to release them now.