Apple’s iPhone 7 May Offer Stereo Speakers and Noise Cancellation

The word on the grapevine is that Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 is set to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack that has long since been a staple of the smartphone and many others. Instead, the new phone is rumored to support wired headphones through its Lightning port.

New research suggests that both the iPhone 7 and the larger iPhone 7 Plus will see the addition of a secondary speaker for stereo audio. Two analysts from Barclays, Blayne Curtis asnd Christopher Hemmelgarn (via Apple Insider), believe that the addition of a new secondary speaker will be done through a secondary amp by Cirrus Logic. This will replace the existing 3.5mm jack.

According to the analysts, the 3.5mm jack on the current-gen iPhone 6S and 6S Plus is located on the same edge where its single speaker is located. If their assumptions are correct, the new iPhone 7 will be the first device in Apple’s lineup of smartphones to offer stereo speakers. Its competitors at Android feature stereo speakers and in many cases, better sound.

The analysts add that future iPhones such as the 7s will also support built-in noise cancellation if they aren’t part of the iPhone 7.

Many are expecting the iPhone 7 to come with Lightning-equipped headphones as part of the package, much as previous generations included earbuds with 3.5mm audio jacks. The company may also sell its own lineup of Bluetooth headphones as optional accessories.

Apple has not said anything about what the features are for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but such rumors surrounding the development of its products have rarely been completely without merit.