iPhone 7 to drop headphone jack - report

The absence of headphone jack would allow Apple to go thinner with its next iPhone. Photo / Jason Oxenham

A detailed design sketch published in a Japanese magazine appear to confirm rumours the new iPhone 7 will not feature a headphone jack.

Japanese Apple blog Mac Otakara has published the schematics that show the new iPhone won't include a headphone jack at the base of the phone. Headphones connected via bluetooth or the lightening jack would be the way forward if Apple does remove the headphone jack as the design showed.

The sketch published in Mac Fan magazine. Photo / Mac Otakara

Apple reported its first quarterly revenue drop since 2003 in what investors worry is the end of a remarkable period of growth that had catapulted the computer maker to become the world's most valuable company.

Because iPhones account for nearly 70 per cent of Apple's revenue, analysts are eager to see what the next generation phone will be.

Most of the rumours around the absence of the headphone jack supported an idea that Apple would opt for a slimmer design for its newest phone.

The schematic design shows a dual iSight camera and appear to show a Smart Connector at the back of the phone.

Apple blog 9to5 Mac said the schematics design should be taken with with some skepticism, but it did follow the same features pattern that the blog had been reporting on for some months.

"It's certainly risky on Apple's part to keep the same design schematics yet still remove the headphone jack, as most customers will likely assume that no headphone jack means a thinner design," the blog said.

MacRumors blog has reported "supply chain rumours" suggest that Apple's next-generation smartphones will be both fully waterproof and dustproof.

The new iPhone is expected to be released mid-September, and not even the name of the phone is known for certain, yet.