iPhone 7: “Courage” to Kill the Headphone Jack (September 2016)
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, launched September 16, 2016, eliminated the 3.5mm headphone jack — sparking worldwide outrage, dongle memes, and Apple’s infamous “courage” justification that became tech industry punchline.
The Controversial Changes:
- No Headphone Jack: Lightning EarPods included, 3.5mm adapter in box ($9 separately later)
- Dual Cameras (7 Plus): Wide + telephoto lenses, 2x optical zoom, portrait mode (computational bokeh)
- Water Resistance: IP67 rating (1m depth, 30 min), first water-resistant iPhone
- Solid-State Home Button: Taptic Engine vibration simulated click (no moving parts)
- New Colors: Jet Black (glossy, scratch-prone) and matte black (replaced space gray)
“Courage” Backlash:
- Phil Schiller Quote: “The reason to move on is courage, the courage to move to something new that improves on the experience.”
- Instant Memes: “Courage” became tech industry joke (Samsung mocked in ads, then removed their own jacks 2018-2019)
- Dongle Hell: Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter required for all existing headphones ($9, constantly lost)
- Audiophiles Furious: Lightning digital audio sparked quality debates (though most couldn’t hear difference)
- Android Mockery: Google Pixel kept jack, “satisfyingly not new” ad campaign
Why Apple Did It:
- Thinner phone (7mm vs 7.1mm, marginal)
- Better water resistance (jack difficult to seal)
- Larger Taptic Engine (haptic feedback improved)
- Push wireless (AirPods launched same month, $159)
- Lightning licensing fees (MFi program revenue)
The AirPods Factor:
- Launched alongside iPhone 7 (not included, $159 separately)
- Initially mocked (looked like toothbrush heads, would fall out, overpriced)
- Became cultural phenomenon by 2018 (status symbol, meme fodder)
- Vindicated Apple’s wireless push (once everyone copied)
Other Improvements:
- Camera: Portrait mode (7 Plus) revolutionized smartphone photography (fake bokeh looked real)
- A10 Fusion Chip: 40% faster CPU, 50% faster GPU vs A9
- Stereo Speakers: Finally (Android had for years)
- Battery: 1 hour longer than 6S (though still not all-day for heavy users)
- Storage: Base 32GB (RIP 16GB), 128GB/256GB options
Sales Performance:
- 78M units sold first quarter (strong despite controversy)
- Jet Black shortages: Glossy finish sold out for months (though scratched easily, most used cases anyway)
- China boom: Dual camera + larger Plus model crushed sales records
- Longest-lasting iPhone: Sold until 2019 (3 years), budget option
Cultural Impact:
- Headphone jack death: Android manufacturers followed 2017-2019 (Google, Samsung, OnePlus capitulated)
- Dongle industry: Belkin, Anker made millions on adapters
- Wireless earbuds explosion: AirPods, Galaxy Buds, thousands of copycats
- “Courage” mockery: Used sarcastically for any unpopular tech decision
Portrait Mode Revolution:
- Computational photography milestone (faking DSLR bokeh with software)
- Instagram aesthetic shifted (blurred backgrounds became standard)
- Every phone manufacturer copied (now baseline feature)
- Sparked “cameras vs phones” debate (DSLR sales cratered)
The Water Resistance Era:
- First water-resistant iPhone enabled underwater photos trend
- AppleCare+ drop coverage became less critical (water damage biggest killer previously)
- Bathroom phone usage increased (shower browsing, bathtub YouTube)
Legacy:
- Killed headphone jack industry-wide (dongles temporary, wireless permanent)
- Dual cameras became standard (every flagship since has 2+ lenses)
- Portrait mode democratized professional-looking photos (Instagram influencer boom)
- “Courage” entered tech meme lexicon (always sarcastic)
Discontinued September 2019. Still functional in 2024 (iOS 15 final update), popular refurb/hand-me-down phone.
Sources: