iPhone 7's Lightning jack could be a durability liability

The Lightning jack controversy strikes again, but in a different way.
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The iPhone 7's missing headphone jack is more than just inconvenient. It may cause a major durability issue.

While the iPhone 7 is built unsurprisingly well, the Lightning jack likely still has the same lifespan. This would be fine if you didn't have to share the iPhone 7's Lightning jack between your charger and your headphones. But you do.

According to the good people at JerryRigEverything, what Apple essentially did was cut your iPhone's lifespan in half, since any port will experience some wear and tear with every insertion. However many thousand insertions the Lightning port is rated for, it will now likely suffer double.


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Nevertheless, the iPhone 7 is a durability marvel in many ways.

Like many of the iPhones that came before it, its screen, home button (now operated solely by touch), and camera are solidly scratch-proof. It is water-resistant like the Samsung Galaxy, and more durable than the Galaxy given its metal buttons. It can also, very impressively, withstand direct contact with a flame for up to ten seconds before its pixels will turn off, and it will recover quickly if they do.

The iPhone 7 is a well-built phone, but is it worth having to worry about the Lightning port possibly cutting your time with it short? That's up to you, and it probably depends on whether you plan to buy Apple's new AirPods and or some other pair of wireless headphones.

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