More Photos Show Off Alleged Lightning EarPods for iPhone 7 [Update: Fake]

A series of photos have been posted on Chinese microblogging service Weibo, and later shared by French website NWE, that provide a closer look at what appear to be Lightning-equipped EarPods. However, it cannot be fully distinguished if these are official Apple headphones or simply Chinese counterfeits.

earpods-2
Apple is expected to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 series, and multiple rumors have suggested that Apple will release EarPods with a Lightning connector in turn. The headphones, beyond having no 3.5mm headphone jack, look nearly identical to current EarPods.

One discernible difference is the larger plastic housing around the Lightning connector compared to the 3.5mm headphone jack on current EarPods. However, the switch to Lightning likely means EarPods will be equipped with a DAC, or digital-to-analog converter, and it needs to be built in somewhere.

While these photos could easily be fake, the switch to Lightning-equipped EarPods makes sense given rumors about the headphone jack's impending demise. Apple may also release a dongle for connecting wired headphones with standard 3.5mm jacks, while wireless Bluetooth headphones will continue to be supported.

EarPods-1
Apple's exact reasons behind its supposed plans to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack are unknown, but rumors suggest that iPhones could have wireless charging by 2017. The iPhone 7 is also expected to be up to 1mm thinner and have increased waterproofing compared to the iPhone 6s.

While the Lightning connector is expected to become an all-in-one port for audio output, charging, and accessories, only a handful of Lightning-equipped headphones are available today, including Philips' Fidelio M2L and Fidelio NC1L models.

Last month, Apple supplier Cirrus Logic introduced a new MFi Headset Development Kit, a reference platform that is designed to help "Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod" accessory makers quickly develop Lightning-based headphones. The development kit is available through Apple's MFi Program for registered licensees.

Those interested in learning more about Lightning-equipped headphones can watch our video: Lightning Headphones: Are They Better or Just an Inconvenience? We also shared a video showing what an aftermarket 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter looks like as they began to reach the market in recent months.

Update: NWE editor Steve Hemmerstoffer has updated his article to confirm that these are not official EarPods.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.4 With Mail Categorization and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:04 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched in September. macOS Sequoia 15.4 comes two months after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.3. Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run macOS 15. With...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...

Top Rated Comments

flowsy Avatar
114 months ago
Faker than my top-model girlfriend.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jbusick7944 Avatar
114 months ago
Convenient how the looping of the wires disappears out of the frame picture. That's literally a pair of regular earbuds and a lighting wire, with the headphone jack and USB portions outside of the image.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jett0516 Avatar
114 months ago
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aamoren3 Avatar
114 months ago
That's hideous. Definitely fake.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gregoryalee Avatar
114 months ago
You would have the option of using a digital connection to used the DAC in the headphones, or use an adapter to use your old headphones.
This is not directed at you, so please don't take it that way. I have been getting very frustrated with Apple as of late:

<Rant mode on>

In addition to the options you have pointed out, I also have the option of going with a different phone and computer ecosystem. My wife and I have had iPhones since the first one was released. We also have been using macs since 2006 after switching from the Windoze world.

The DAC in the iPhone is actually excellent, but don't take my word for it: Just go take a look at the headfi forums. Most if not all users on this forum will never be able to hear the difference between any modern DACs in a double blind test.

Considering the current assumed trajectory of App$e, my family is sadly starting to look alternatives considering the fashionista direction of the company.

Case in point, when you consider that all of the devices we use headphones with and that have 3.5/1/4" connections with in our home:

We have three receivers, a 2500.00 professional DAC, a 1000 watt PA, guitar/phone interfaces, 5 computers, and our cars all use 3.5" jacks for universal COMPATIBILITY . That is just off the top of my head, we probably have more. Count how much money those devices might cost together. 50-100k depending on the price tag of the cars.

Now here comes Apple with a 800.00 phone that requires a proprietary connector... Now all of these devices are going license and add a lightening connector because Apple says the connector is old? Yeah right!

Oh so I can buy an adapter for 19.99!

Adapters do have one universal rule, they get lost easily and usually at the worst possible moment. I outright refuse to buy a dozen or more proprietary adapters from App$e just so they can pretend that they are moving the world forward from a technology that has nothing wrong with it.

I don't boast, but for the sake of this rant, I have been on about a dozen published CDs and many more recordings, many of which have been mixed in or recorded in my home studio. I have a very experienced and trained ear.

In my studio I can currently listen to and record 24 bit/192 Khz music with the crappiest 3.5" headphones with the right music sources and DAC. That is right, you bring me the worst but working analog headphones, and I will play 24 bit/192 khz music through them. Amazing isn't it????!!!! They won't sound anywhere as good as my $600.00 Beyer Dynamics, but they WILL play any bitrate of music available.

Anyone who knows anything about digital audio reproduction knows that going to "digital" headphones is mostly snake-oil when it comes to delivering the best possible audio reproduction. The lightening connector and moving the logical location of the DAC and amplifier will not magically make headphones better, but will in fact shrink the possible use cases for higher end users like myself and make us gallop to the competition. Oh and the competition knows this btw.

It has been a good run with Apple, but I am probably getting off the train at the next stop (Yeah go ahead and tell me good riddance, I don't care. I have music to enjoy and use cases that App$e apparently no longer cares about. I will gladly take my money else ware).

You know what is an older connector than the 3.5" jack? Yeah the three prong electrical outlet. Apple, it's time to ditch those old fashioned outlets. You should come up with a new safer and convenient design that requires us to replace our old fashioned electrical outlets. Oh and you can sell them to us at 79.00 a piece. I know there are a lot of people on this board who will gladly rewire their entire houses for you, then buy adapters for their old fashioned lamps, appliances, and other electricity consuming devices and laugh at me for my old fashioned 3 prongers.

</Rant>
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Norbs12 Avatar
114 months ago
If these are real, they are ugly AF.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)