Despite the rumors that the iPhone 7 is set to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack, an alleged picture of some of the device’s components seems to show that Apple might not be removing the port just yet.
That little black part at the top is allegedly a headphone jack
This has been one of the longest-running iPhone 7 rumors, with several leaked images purportedly showing an iPhone without a headphone jack. But this latest image from China – allegedly showing the internal circuitry of the iPhone 7 – seems to include a headphone port, conflicting with previous reports.
Removing the headphone jack would free up space in the iPhone, which could be used to house new components, a bigger battery, or – more likely – make the device that little bit thinner. It could even be a step towards making a future iPhone waterproof. If the standard jack is removed, the existing Lightning port would be used to connect wired headphones – and not everybody is happy about that prospect.
Read more: does the iPhone really need a headphone jack?
It’s hard to judge the validity of this image against previous rumors. It’s possible the image is from a previous iPhone, a test unit or just completely mocked up. On the other hand, it could be that Apple has changed its mind about removing the headphone jack, or is planning to ditch it at a later date instead of with this year’s iPhone 7. Apple likes to keep its cards notoriously close to its chest, so it may be a while until we find out for certain what this means. The iPhone 7 is expected to be released this September.