Apple is rumoured to be ditching the standard headphone socket in the iPhone 7, to mixed reaction from fans. A YouTube video has now emerged purporting to show how Apple's new EarPods will connect to future iPhone devices in the post-3.5mm jack era.

The video, uploaded by YouTube user EverythingApplesPro, claims to show iPhone 7 EarPods working via the Lightning port on what looks like an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S. They look like standard Apple headphones, featuring an in-line volume rocket and pause/play buttons, but they are connected to the iPhone with a Lightning connector instead of the traditional 3.5mm adapter.

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The video shows the EarPods in action, but doesn't go into much detail. While there's every chance they could be a third-party product, there's nothing to suggest that they're not the genuine article either.

Also, with the launch of the iPhone 7 expected to be announced next month, this is the time of year when more solid leaks start to filter through.

Either way, the video hasn't gone down well with viewers, with the majority expressing discontent at Apple's move to Lightning-reliant EarPods.

User PhiledalphiaZoo wrote: "Leave it up to Apple to make some dumb sh**...smh....Now u [sic] can't listen to music and charge your phone."

If this reflects the wider consensus of Apple's fan base, it could be a problem for the company, which may face a hard time winning over fans for its upcoming smartphone.

According to a recent survey of iPhone users by Quartz, less than 10% are likely or extremely likely to upgrade to the iPhone 7 if it doesn't arrive sporting a redesign, something most rumours point to being the case.

Why would Apple remove the headphone socket?

The rumoured removal of the 3.5mm port is likely to be a space-saving move, which could lead to a thinner handset or make way for a larger battery, something sorely needed in this age of large, power-sucking displays. It's also argued that the 3.5mm jack is not the best option for audio quality and by replacing the technology (which was first introduced back in the late 1970s) with a newer connection it could help boost Hi-Fi sound.

Given their history, we'd be inclined to trust Apple's engineers but it's a hugely contentious issue given the amount of headphones and audio equipment people have spent money on and the vast number of peripherals and docks that connect via the versatile port.

But Apple isn't the first to do this. Chinese manufacturer LeEco released three handsets this year that all carry a USB Type-C headphone connection rather that the 3.5mm jack. It claims fix problems of poor sound separation and instead offer lossless audio with a new method of audio transcoding and transmission.

If Apple did ditch the socket, official adapters would likely solve any problems for traditional audio owners but not without a whole pile of stink being kicked up about it first.

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