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

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 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. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...

Top Rated Comments

flowsy Avatar
115 months ago
Faker than my top-model girlfriend.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jbusick7944 Avatar
115 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
115 months ago
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aamoren3 Avatar
115 months ago
That's hideous. Definitely fake.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gregoryalee Avatar
115 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
115 months ago
If these are real, they are ugly AF.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)