iPhone 7 headphone jack removal could spread to the MacBook Pro and other Apple products, survey suggests
‘Do you ever use the headphone port on your MacBook?’ the question asks
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Apple could be about to remove the headphone jack from its computers, as well as its phones, according to a new survey.
The company has been asking owners of its MacBook Pros whether they ever use the headphone port on the laptop. Many have worried that it indicates that Apple wants to know whether it could safely remove it – presumably because it’s planning to do so in the future.
When Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, it already suggested that the same change would be made across its line. The San Francisco launch event was filled with references to the wireless future, and how Apple had made the decision to drop the jack because that is where it feels that computing is going.
It also showed off new AirPods that are meant for listening to music wirelessly – without the headphone jack or any other plug. And they have special technology that allows them to connect easily to the Mac and other Apple products, meaning that they would work seamlessly with a laptop without a headphone jack.
The same survey also appeared to suggest that Apple could remove the SD card reader in the side of the laptop, or potentially even traditional USB plugs.
“How do you upload photos from a digital camera or phone to your MacBook Pro with Retina Display?” one Twitter user was asked.
But if Apple does make such a change to its laptops, it’s unlikely to come soon. The company has been strongly rumoured to be launching new, redesigned laptops imminently – far too imminently for the company to be deciding whether to drop the headphone jack or not.
And if it does end up dropping the headphone jack from its laptops, its likely that the slim MacBook would have it first. That computer has been Apple’s trailblazing one – dropping all ports except for two, though notably keeping the headphone jack around.
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