Bringing BACK The iPhone Headphone Jack - in China
Strange PartsCited 17× on HN, 2017–2024
demo · intermediate · evergreen · 2017–2024 on HN
Strange Parts spends four months, seven custom circuit boards and several disassembled iPhones adding a working headphone jack to an iPhone 7 in China. The build is documented in detail.
Cited as proof that space existed for a headphone jack in the iPhone.
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12 comments from Hacker News
Very similar to the experience recounted by this engineer YouTuber[1], who is partly known for modifying his iPhone to add a headphone jack[2]. It's incredible the harmful effect that incorrect medical treatment can have. [1] link [2] ▶ this video
Yeah, well when they removed the headphone jack on iPhone 7, which has the same shape and dimensions as iPhone 6, it turned out they just put some piece of plastic in the place where previously the jack was. Youtube channel Strange Parts managed to implement working headphone jack on iphone7: ▶ this video So I call BS on space constrains, I call BS on waterproofing (waterproofed phones with 3.5mm jack exist). Conveniently, when Apple released iPhone 7, they also released 1st gen AirPods :-)
> They needed the space for other things like the new generation Taptic engine on iPhone 7 I mean, they didn't technically need the space - there was space for one guy to cram one into the bottom without removing the taptic thingy (although it did get shifted slightly) [1] [1] super long video and not practical for an individual to do it, but shows that there was space and it could've been included. ▶ this video
Video showing someone adding the headphone jack back to an iPhone 7. ▶ this video The headphone jack did not make space for the taptic engine; it made space for a piece of plastic.
> It would take at most two more tenths of a cubic centimeter more volume I wonder how much empty space is in current gen iPhones, the 7 had so much that a YouTuber was able to squeeze the adapter Apple shipped with it convert analog audio to Lightning externally entirely into the phone ( ▶ this video / link ).
They replaced the headphone jack with a barometric vent which other phone manufacturers just put in a different location. Apple didn't have to get rid of the port. They decided to get rid of the port because they knew that their users would buy the phone anyway and then have more of a reason to buy AirPods. There is plenty of space in that corner though. Some guy wanted to see if he could add the headphone jack back and was pretty successful for a hand crafted solution. ▶ this video
A "random person" did fit a 1/8 audio jack back inside the iphone without having to modify the case ( ▶ this video ). It's all about a money grab for Apple...
I've learnt it has a DAC after watching Strange Parts take 1 apart and put the components inside the iPhone 7 so he could have the 3.5 jack: ▶ this video
Not sure if I'd go with "little know-how" - but yes, he most certainly did it. ▶ this video If nothing else it proves that the jack removal was not done for space-saving or anything other than business reasons. However whilst I'm prepared to think ill of Apple under pretty much any circumstance - I'm utterly clueless why so many other vendors jumped in (as they don't have Beats to schill). Still convinced I'm missing something clutches onto OG Pixel
▶ this video video from "Strange Parts", which after multiple tries brought back a headphone jack on a iPhone 7. It is described as not ready for prime time (see at the end ▶ this video )
It's not to save space. See ▶ this video . There is just plastic sitting in its place and it is possible to add headphone jack, without making it thick.
1. No. Teardowns have shown nothing of that sort. It's a marketing decision to push people to buy $170 airpods. In fact, there's a very popular tech blogger's video where he successfully adds in a headphone jack[1] to his iPhone 8. 2. No. Samsung phones are far more water resistant than iPhones are with a jack on it. I would love to see your links to said research. [1] ▶ this video