iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus Say Goodbye to the Headphone Jack

Apple's next iPhones will come without the analogue headphone jack that's been standard on iPhones and most other electronic devices for years.

Instead, the company is making iPhone owners listen with wireless Bluetooth headsets or with earphones that can plug into the phone's digital Lightning port, which has been used primarily for charging.

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The long-rumoured decision to ditch the 3.5 millimetre headphone jack could cause an outcry from consumers. Critics have already complained that their old headphones won't fit in the charging port without an adapter. There's also the dilemma of where to plug in a set of headphones if the charging port is already being used to plug in a power cord.

Apple will include an adapter with the iPhone 7 for those with older headphones.

Apple marketing chief Philip W. Schiller says it comes down to "courage to move on to something new."

Schiller says removing the port frees up space in the phone for newer technologies. He also says the Lightning port was designed years ago with digital audio in mind.

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Apple designed new wireless headphones called AirPods to replace the traditional ear buds. Schiller didn't mention a price for the wireless earphones.

Apple isn't the first to ditch the headphone jack. Motorola quietly did so a month ago with some models of the Moto Z.

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The new iPhones are getting stereo speakers - one on each side of the phone - along with a display capable of reproducing a wider range of colours.