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While from a financial standpoint this would make sense, most of the guys making the executive decisions at Apple are design focused and oriented. Dropping the

While from a financial standpoint this would make sense, most of the guys making the executive decisions at Apple are design focused and oriented. Dropping the headphone jack differentiates Apple even more from its competition, makes the phone sleeker, helps with water proofing, makes the wireless headphones more appealing (which not only act as headphones but also communication devices). This was much more than just a financial move for Apple, and in my opinion it looks to be a smart one.

slantedview 10y ago
It's only smart on one hand (for the reasons you mention). On the other hand users will be pissed off at losing the convenience (yes, convenience) of plug and play headphones, along with the many other reasons why wired > wireless. It may be a smart move in the end, but it's not obviously so at this point.
guelo 10y ago
> makes the phone sleeker It's the exact same size as the 6s.
- coryfklein 10y ago
  The word sleek is unrelated to size, it refers to having an elegant, streamlined shape of design. Removing the 3.5mm jack does allow for a more sleek design.
  - AlexandrB 10y ago
    The camera bump is a huge wart on the design, but they kept that and did not make the phone thicker to compensate. I question this rationale.
    - phinnaeus 10y ago
      This is what I'm talking about. I don't really use my phone to play music that much (although it is definitely a non-zero amount). The dealbreaker for me is that they've made a device that doesn't lay flat without a case. Although, since it has that ugly bump on the back, it's not like I'd want to have the phone outside a case anyway. Actually, it's not really about appearances for me. It's just that it wouldn't sit flat. Like a table with 1 leg that's an inch longer than the others at a shitty diner.
  - guelo 10y ago
    The only difference is on the bottom left they replaced the headphone hole with 6 speaker grill holes. Not sure why that's sleeker. https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/apple-liveblog0573-e1473275375251.jpg https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/apple-l...
    - theshrike79 10y ago
      Because it's more symmetrical.
      - pritambaral 10y ago
        A Moto X has the same symmetry, and manages to keep both a 3.5mm port and a USB port on it.
        theshrike79 10y ago
        How can it be symmetrical with a 3.5mm port? Does it have two of them? You should look up what symmetry means.
        pritambaral 10y ago
        > You should look up what symmetry means. Are you... trying to imply I don't know what symmetry means? Unbelievable! > How can it be symmetrical with a 3.5mm port? Does it have two of them? You couldn't look it up yourself? Put one 3.5mm port on the centerline at the top of the device, and the microUSB port on the centerline at the bottom of the device. There.
      - kelseydh 10y ago
        That's hogwash--no one cares about that. If anything, the move was done to expand room within the internals of the phone.
        JustSomeNobody 10y ago
  - deckard1 10y ago
    Apple permanently lost their "sleek" cred when they introduced the camera bump on iPhone 6. No way in hell Steve Jobs would have released that monstrosity.
esolyt 10y ago
> helps with water proofing There are plenty of waterproof phones with headphone jacks.
- stouset 10y ago
  And it may have involved tradeoffs in terms of internal space, design, etc. that Apple weren't willing to make.
  - esolyt 10y ago
    It's highly unlikely that this played a role in their decision. Waterproofing the headphone jack isn't more complicated than waterproofing the charging port. Not to mention, they replaced the headphone jack with even more holes which also require sealing.
callesgg 10y ago
For me i estimate my iphone use as: 80% Music 8% Calling 8% email 2% browsing 2% other stuff With that in mind removing the 3.5 jack does not make the phone sleeker you need to see the adapter as a part of the iPhone as the phone is mostly useless without it.
- null0pointer 10y ago
  Actually I would consider the adapter part of the headphone cable since headphones (and other audio devices) are the only things that need it.
fdgdasfadsf 10y ago
It definitely differentiates them - into a company that now makes a device that I won't be buying.

slantedview 10y ago

It's only smart on one hand (for the reasons you mention). On the other hand users will be pissed off at losing the convenience (yes, convenience) of plug and play headphones, along with the many other reasons why wired > wireless. It may be a smart move in the end, but it's not obviously so at this point.

guelo 10y ago

> makes the phone sleeker It's the exact same size as the 6s.

coryfklein 10y ago
The word sleek is unrelated to size, it refers to having an elegant, streamlined shape of design. Removing the 3.5mm jack does allow for a more sleek design.
- AlexandrB 10y ago
  The camera bump is a huge wart on the design, but they kept that and did not make the phone thicker to compensate. I question this rationale.
  - phinnaeus 10y ago
    This is what I'm talking about. I don't really use my phone to play music that much (although it is definitely a non-zero amount). The dealbreaker for me is that they've made a device that doesn't lay flat without a case. Although, since it has that ugly bump on the back, it's not like I'd want to have the phone outside a case anyway. Actually, it's not really about appearances for me. It's just that it wouldn't sit flat. Like a table with 1 leg that's an inch longer than the others at a shitty diner.
- guelo 10y ago
  The only difference is on the bottom left they replaced the headphone hole with 6 speaker grill holes. Not sure why that's sleeker. https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/apple-liveblog0573-e1473275375251.jpg https://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/apple-l...
  - theshrike79 10y ago
    Because it's more symmetrical.
    - pritambaral 10y ago
      A Moto X has the same symmetry, and manages to keep both a 3.5mm port and a USB port on it.
      - theshrike79 10y ago
        How can it be symmetrical with a 3.5mm port? Does it have two of them? You should look up what symmetry means.
        pritambaral 10y ago
        > You should look up what symmetry means. Are you... trying to imply I don't know what symmetry means? Unbelievable! > How can it be symmetrical with a 3.5mm port? Does it have two of them? You couldn't look it up yourself? Put one 3.5mm port on the centerline at the top of the device, and the microUSB port on the centerline at the bottom of the device. There.
    - kelseydh 10y ago
      That's hogwash--no one cares about that. If anything, the move was done to expand room within the internals of the phone.
      - JustSomeNobody 10y ago
- deckard1 10y ago
  Apple permanently lost their "sleek" cred when they introduced the camera bump on iPhone 6. No way in hell Steve Jobs would have released that monstrosity.

esolyt 10y ago

> helps with water proofing There are plenty of waterproof phones with headphone jacks.

stouset 10y ago
And it may have involved tradeoffs in terms of internal space, design, etc. that Apple weren't willing to make.
- esolyt 10y ago
  It's highly unlikely that this played a role in their decision. Waterproofing the headphone jack isn't more complicated than waterproofing the charging port. Not to mention, they replaced the headphone jack with even more holes which also require sealing.

callesgg 10y ago

For me i estimate my iphone use as: 80% Music 8% Calling 8% email 2% browsing 2% other stuff With that in mind removing the 3.5 jack does not make the phone sleeker you need to see the adapter as a part of the iPhone as the phone is mostly useless without it.

null0pointer 10y ago
Actually I would consider the adapter part of the headphone cable since headphones (and other audio devices) are the only things that need it.

fdgdasfadsf 10y ago

It definitely differentiates them - into a company that now makes a device that I won't be buying.