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Frame from Bringing BACK The iPhone Headphone Jack - in China Plays via YouTube's privacy-enhanced embed

Bringing BACK The iPhone Headphone Jack - in China

5 videos recommended on HN
YouTube
Cited on HN 17 times, 2017–2024, never outright recommended score 0
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

Cited as proof that space existed for a headphone jack in the iPhone.

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.

“super long video and not practical for an individual to do it, but shows that there was space” (HN, 2021)

17 citations · Demos · intermediate

17 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@tstrimple Oct 2017 Cites it
on HN thread Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL announced
You're really asking why overpriced wireless devices with mediocre to atrocious battery life and substandard audio quality are not a sufficient replacement for devices you can literally buy in any convenience store around the world for tens of dollars? There is room for a headphone jack in these phones (video below). The only reason they removed them when they did is to push accessory sales. [this video]
Headphone jack re-added to an iPhone.
@harshalizee Sep 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Apple's best product is now privacy
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]
Blogger adds headphone jack to an iPhone.
@dstryr Sep 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Apple's best product is now privacy
>> 1. There's really no space for it, if you look at teardowns. So something took its place. This guy was able to add the headphone jack back into an iPhone ( [this video] ). The argument that there is really no space just isn't true.
Shows space existed for headphone jack.
@coupdejarnac Sep 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Was ditching the headphone jack a good idea?
The strange parts guy on youtube added a headphone jack to the iPhone 7. So, I think the stated reason for removing the headphone jack to make room for the battery is complete BS. [this video] Also, why are you responding to the question about limited RF spectrum? It's like you have an agenda in this thread.
Headphone jack added to iPhone 7.
@bambax Sep 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Was ditching the headphone jack a good idea?
Did you read peapicker's comment before posting your own? (It's older by an hour). Some people need wired headphones and if the port is used for something else then they can't. Also it's completely untrue that the iPhone is "thinner" without a headphone jack; this guy added a jack to an iPhone 7 without external modification: [this video] The video has over 6M views. Apple doesn't care much about their users -- but it's hard to blame them, since said users are apparently happy with it.
Jack added to iPhone 7 without external modification.
@evv Sep 2018 Cites it
on HN thread Was ditching the headphone jack a good idea?
..although Apple did not use the space for anything else when they removed it from the iPhone 7. Whats the evidence? Scotty from strange parts actually managed to add a working headphone jack back to the iPhone, in the exact spot where it had been removed! [this video]
Working headphone jack restored in original spot.
@goldcd Nov 2018 Cites it
on HN thread I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back
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
Proves jack removal was not about space.
@dalf Nov 2018 Cites it
on HN thread I still miss my headphone jack, and I want it back
[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] )
Headphone jack restored on iPhone 7 after several tries.
@tstrimple Sep 2019 Cites it
on HN thread New Mac Pro Tech Specs
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]
Handmade jack restoration shows spare space.
@boogies Aug 2020 Cites it
on HN thread Tesla’s former CTO is building a giant lithium-ion battery recycling operation
> 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] ).
Adapter squeezed into the iPhone 7.
@SECProto Oct 2021 Cites it
on HN thread MacBook Pro 14-inch and MacBook Pro 16-inch
> 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]
Long build showing space existed for a jack.
@vondro May 2022 Cites it
on HN thread After roasting Apple about headphone jacks, Google dumps it from Pixel 6A
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 :-)
Working jack added to iPhone 7.
@evilai Mar 2024 Cites it
on HN thread We've Been Treating Concussions All Wrong
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]
Identifies the creator by his headphone jack mod.

Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.

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