The tech world is buzzing about a design that hints Apple might do away with the headphone jack on its next iPhone.
It’s not just the headphone jack that might be excluded from future phones, though. Some phones might not have any ports or jacks at all.
“The technology already exists,” said Mike Gikas, electronics editor for Consumer Reports. “And without ports, smartphones can be slimmer, thinner and better able to resist damage from moisture, dust and other debris.”
There’s already a growing selection of affordable, high-quality Bluetooth headphones that wirelessly connect to many phones. Even speaker holes might not be necessary: The Sharp Aquos Crystal and several models from Kyocera use a person’s face as a conductor.
“You don’t need speaker holes because on these phones the display vibrates,” Gikas said. “And those vibrations are interpreted as sound by your ear.”
Although it’s not very common yet, Consumer Reports tests show the technology works well.
To eliminate the need for a charging port, there’s wireless charging. Users just put the phone on a mat when it needs some juice. That technology is already available on phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Motorola Droid Turbo2.
The ability to wirelessly upload music to phones has been around for a while, too.
“You have lots of options,” Gikas said. “You can sync your music over Wi-Fi. And there are a ton of streaming services.”
Some streaming options are free while others cost as little as $10 per month.
For those willing to give wireless headphones a try, Consumer Reports recommends the Bluetooth JBL by Harman for $50 and the Shadow Wireless from SOL Republic for $100.
CREDITS
- Reporter: Monica Laliberte
- Producer: Jenn Sorber Smith
- Web Editor: Evan Matsumoto
