Not all customers ready to cut cord for Apple’s new iPhone 7
More stories from Angel Garcia
At least it’s water-resistant, right? In Apple’s latest effort to appear edgy and innovative, CEO Tim Cook opted out of adding the headphone jack to their new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. While the company has offered a new bluetooth earpod set to accompany the latest devices, many users seem to be displeased with the adjustment.
“I saw it on Twitter like a year ago, and at first I thought it was just rumors happening on social media, so I didn’t pay it any attention, but when Apple confirmed it I was genuinely shocked,” Kaycee Davidson, junior, said. “People have been asking for things like group Facetime and a better battery life. I don’t really know why they decided to cut something everyone was already used to.”
So why compromise an obvious desire of their customers for a seemingly unwanted change? Apple’s senior VP of marketing Philip Schiller thinks the answer is simple.
“The reason to move on: courage. The courage to move on and do something new that betters all of us. And our team has tremendous courage,” Schilling said at the company’s annual September keynote, where the new feature was announced.
The future of technology is progressively becoming wireless, and this is Apple’s way of acknowledging it. However, this left many consumers worried that their current earpods would become obsolete. To combat this, Apple is offering a Lightning Port Adapter that connects the now out-of-date earphones to a cord, which in turn plugs into the charging hole of the phone, eliminating the need to dole out $159 for their new bluetooth Air Pods.
“I’ve seen some pictures of the adapter and there’s just way too many wires and cords involved in the whole thing. It seems too inconvenient to me,” Shania Jackson, sophomore, said.
While the absence of the headphone jack may deter prospective users from purchasing the iPhone 7, there are in fact some new features to look forward to. An improved battery life, larger RAM, and a slightly upgraded storage all make the new iPhone a little more bearable. While none of these characteristics are particularly groundbreaking, they’re necessary spec boosts that make the device more comparable in today’s competitive phone market. The two defining aspects being touted as their key selling points are the all new dual-camera lens with immersive higher-resolution optics and the phone’s water/dust resistant capabilities.
These developments, along with the social status that comes with owning the latest phone, could make the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus worth purchasing, so long as you’re willing to kiss the headphone jack goodbye.
I am a senior and this is my third year on Newspaper. I am involved in a multitude of activities at school, including theatre, choir, and student council....