The news is trending all over the world that the brand new smartphone from Apple, the iPhone 7 has ditched its standard 3.5mm analog headphone jack.
Of course, it will pair with the new wireless headphones, called the Air-pods, via Bluetooth. But what are you going to do with your favorite headphones from your previous iPhone versions? Obviously, you wouldn’t want to let go of it! Or what if you cannot afford the expensive wireless Airpods right away (they cost a massive $159 at launch time)!
Thankfully, you don’t have to adapt to every change that Apple brings out. You can always use your favorite tethered headphones in a few ways, although in some cases it can be unintuitive revolving the iPhone 7’s newly levied limitation. You can use Bluetooth or even use wired adapters. Though the other methods involve a little blood sweat and tears, with a bit of dedication and determination, you can hook up your favorite headphones to the all new shiny iPhone 7 in no time.
The Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter
As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them”, the simplest solution to the audio jack problem of the new iPhone 7 is to use the Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter, that is already included in the box. Though carrying the adapter everywhere might not seem the ideal solution, it is still better for the start.
Apart from the drawback of having to carry it around, the Lightning adapter also presents another dilemma which is as clear as a bell; how are you going to charge your iPhone 7, while your adapter is plugged into the only jack? Apparently, Apple has left these sorts of cranny facts unaddressed. However, there is always a good chance that some third-party manufacturer might create a product to solve the issue in a better way.
Given the price of the new iPhone and keeping in mind how much Apple and its partners for accessories usually charge for Lightning adapters, the guess is that the Lightning-to-3.5mm adapters might cost somewhere in between $20-$30. It will come as a surprise if the cost goes above this range. The Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter that has been included along with the new iPhone 7 is not the only solution that comes from Apple for the issue that arises due to losing the headphone jack.
Apple iPhone Lightning Dock
The company also provides an iPhone Lightning Dock. This is precisely not portable, but it does exhibit an audio port on its rear end. It can connect your iPhone 7 to the computer via a USB cable for syncing the mobile device and for recharging the battery; it can always be connected to an electrical outlet for charging the phone. It also packs built-in speakers. The dock might be a reasonable solution if you are planning on using your headphones by your bedside.
Bluetooth adapter
Another option is available if you are ready to deal with dongles and which involves comparatively fewer wires is using a Bluetooth adapter. Most of these adapters pair up easily with the iPhone and even better offer features and functionality which your headphones alone might provide now. Some Bluetooth adapters might have a microphone or dual-microphones installed in them, which will convert the headphones into solid headsets. They have a reachable range of almost 33 feet, although the efficiency can be disturbed if there are barriers like walls or doors in between. Few adapters may also double-up as a Bluetooth transmitter, which allows you to directly plug-in your phone and also streams audio to a wireless headset or to a speaker.
However, wireless solutions also come with their own conceivable complications. The Bluetooth adapters have a battery capacity that varies widely. Some of these last for as long as eight hours for a single charge, while others might last for just four hours. The adapters can deliver a low quality audio streaming, which might not be on par with the top-notch Bluetooth headphones. But, undoubtedly the advantage of having Bluetooth adapters lies in the luxury of having to deal with fewer wires, which is not a bad thing after all.