After Apple decided to ditch the 3.5mm audio jack with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus smartphones last year, we didn't expect them to arrive on this year's successors either. However, we expected refined accessory or audio options from the Cupertino giant, or at least a step up from last year, but if latest reports are to be believed, that isn't going to happen. Apple is said to be planning to stick with the Lightning connector as the only source of audio and charging both, and bundle Lightning EarPods and a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter for ease in transition.
9to5Mac cites Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis who claims that Apple will drop the adapter in the future, but will retain it this year. "Debate whether Lightning adapter stays in box, we believe it stays this year but goes away at some point, potentially in the 2018 model," Curtis notes. The report also says that because of this move, Apple supplier Cirrus Logic will benefit as it provides components for the bundled adapter.
Apple iPhone 8 Specifications, Release Date, and More - Leaks and Rumours So Far
This means that all the three models - the iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus, and the OLED iPhone 8 will have a Lightning EarPods with an adapter bundled in for all those who still prefer using 3.5mm audio jack earphones. The iPhone 8 is expected to be unveiled alongside the other two in September, but won't arrive in the market till much later. A fresh Bloomberg report indicates that it will go on sale 'one to two months' later, mostly just before the holiday season. The iPhone 8 is expected to sport an almost edge-to-edge OLED display with an optical fingerprint sensor, a dual camera setup at the back, a 3D front camera, and waterproofing abilities.
Finally, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a note to investors about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 tips that the iPhone 8 will sport a bezel-less "full-screen design" as has been rumoured in the past, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8. The use of this type of display will supposedly also "accelerate penetration of the high-end smartphone segment over the next few years," 9to5Mac quotes Kuo as saying.
Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.