In its bid to manufacture its thinnest smartphone ever, Apple is reportedly planning to do away with an important and functional phone feature. The tech company is also looking to adapt a new screen technology to use for its future models.
Per 9 to 5 Mac, it seems Apple is considering getting rid of the 3.5mm headphone jack when the company releases the iPhone 7. With this feature removed, the unit's thickness could now be reduced to as much as 1mm, which is a lot thinner compared to the iPhone 6s. If this plan materializes, the iPhone 7 will become Apple's thinnest smartphone to date.
To replace the headphone port, the iPhone 7 will now require a Bluetooth port or a Lightning port that will be accessed via an app, per Engadget. Conventional users of the headphone will need an adapter for this to work. This means that third-party manufacturers of headphones must soon come up with units that will include Lighting cables or Lighting adapters as well.
The report also stated that Apple could plan to have the iPhone 7 release bundled with Lightning connector-equipped EarPods. However, there's least 10 months to go before new iPhone models are released in the market, so there might still be many changes to this.
Meanwhile, Forbes reported that Apple may soon ditch LCD technology in favor of OLED technology for its screens. The company was initially concerned of the OLED's lifespan in the past, hence it couldn't make the switch sooner. Perhaps Apple has grown confident of the technology now, so that it is considering meeting suppliers to discuss the replacement of its screens for its 2018 iPhone release.
OLED technology is considered more efficient in that it can display better vibrant colors. The screen type also delivers perfect contrast in its black levels and can improve the iPhone's battery life as it no longer requires backlight, per Geek. The news outlet also said that Samsung and LG have taken advantage of OLED panels for its flexibility, hence they can manufacture curved smartphones with this.
Samsung has the capacity to produce OLED in large volumes, so Apple is looking to tap into either JD or Sharp for their needs. Whether or not these suppliers can meet Apple's demands remains to be seen. Geek suggested that, with Apple releasing at least 200 million iPhones every year, it's possible that not all of its unit will come with OLED technology. Cheaper models may still make use of the LCD screen.
