iPhone 7: without a jack, how to listen to your music?

The information had been leaking for months. And yet, Apple's announcement on September 7 continues to divide observers and consumers, who can't believe it. The new smartphones from the Apple firm, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus, marketed from this Friday, will not have a "jack" socket, which allows you to connect headphones or headphones.

The Californian group is thus forcing its customers to rethink the way they listen to music. What to do now? A practical point on the possible alternatives.

The EarPods supplied with the iPhone 7

Since the iPhone 3GS, the Apple firm has marketed its smartphones with a pair of in-house headphones. The absence of a “jack” socket on its iPhone 7 and 7 Plus does not change anything. Each model will be delivered with a new version of its wired EarPods. The difference with the headphones delivered with previous models? connectivity. These new EarPods will be equipped with a Lightning connector, the same as the brand's chargers. In other words, the headphones will plug into the port used to charge your phone.

Using an adapter

For those who already have headphones or earphones that they wish to continue using, Apple includes a small adapter with each iPhone 7 that connects to the smartphone by Lightning and on which it is possible to connect a jack plug.

Buying a dock

But whether it's for EarPods or Lightning headphones, or even the use of the adapter offered by Apple, how can you listen to your music or watch a movie while the iPhone is charging? The specialized site Mashable reveals that the question was posed by e-mail directly to Phil Schiller, Apple's vice-president of marketing, who replied that there was a dock (support) for iPhone with a plug in its stores. jack.

Placed vertically on this dock, the smartphone can be recharged and the accessory connected at the same time by wire to headphones or speakers. This is a source of additional income for Apple, since the accessory is sold for 59 euros.

Buying Bluetooth headphones or earphones

Lightning headphones have been around since 2015, but Apple sees a wireless future. By launching its new iPhones, the American giant has lifted the veil on a pair of Bluetooth headphones called "AirPods", whose design has been greeted with skepticism. The firm at the apple did not skimp on the arguments to entice the public. Its AirPods have, for example, an autonomy of 5 hours which can be extended thanks to their case allowing several refills. Problem: it's an investment. You have to pay no less than 179 euros to acquire them.

The elimination of the "jack" socket is also a boon for manufacturers who already market wireless headphones and earphones. Beats (which belongs to Apple) Sony, Philips, Pioneer, Bose, Sennheiser... The offer is already bloated for various price ranges. Apple customers tempted by the wireless connection but who do not wish to buy its AirPods have a wide choice in terms of equipment.

Whatever solution is adopted, consumers will have to adapt. Samsung would also see the wireless future. The first rumors about its Galaxy S8 planned for 2017 report a smartphone without a jack.