Apple to ditch standard headphone jack in next iPhone, report says

A report that Apple’s next iPhone will ditch the standard 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of using its Lightning cable port is angering a number of users.

A source told Fast Company that next big phone will come without the plug to try and make the phone slimmer.

As a replacement, the source said the phone will use its Lightning charging port for wired headphones, as well as be able to link up with Bluetooth headphones as normal.

The report said Apple is working with Cirrus Logic to adapt the audio chipset, as well as use a new noise-cancelling technology.

But this could pose a number of issues, including needing to use Lightning-compatible wired headphones or a rumoured conversion dongle on airplanes where Bluetooth is banned.

It could also mean users can’t listen to music through headphones while charging the phone.

The source also confirmed to Fast Company that the new handset will very likely support wireless charging and be waterproof.

However over 200,000 aren’t happy with the reports, signing a petition begging the tech giant to keep the standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

It has asked the company to respect its customers as well as the planet.

“Not only will this force iPhone users to dole out additional cash to replace their hi-fi headphones, it will singlehandedly create mountains of electronic waste -- that likely won't get recycled,” the petition said.