iPhone 7

As expected, Apple announced the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus last week. Much of the ensuing buzz has centered around Apple's removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. Like it or not, this still leaves two options to connect headphones to the latest iPhone models: wireless Bluetooth audio or wired headphones. There has been a lot of confusion surrounding this change, with many Apple fans believing that the company will ship the iPhone 7 with wireless AirPods. Let's bring some clarity to what's happened.

The iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus and Apple Watch Series 2 are now available for pre-order through apple.com. Apple's next-generation handsets start at $649 for the 4.7-inch, 32GB model, and $769 for the 5.5-inch, 32GB Plus model. Both devices are available in Jet Black, Black, Silver, Gold and Rose Gold. The new Jet Black color option is only available in the 128GB or 256GB options. The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will begin shipping on September 16.

Apple finally revealed the iPhone 7 at its September 7th keynote at the Bill Graham Civic Center in San Francisco, CA, but instead of the normal excitement over new hardware, the Internet quickly responded to Apple's new $159 AirPods. It turned out the rumor mill was once again correct, and Apple decided to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of more space and moving towards a “wireless" future. This means the standard EarPods and other wired-headphones of the past will not work with the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models. Apple also introduced a pair of wireless AirPods as a new accessory to their mobile products.

The AirPods resemble two dongles that you wear in your ears. They automatically sync with any compatible iOS device, and can sense when you're wearing them and when you're not. They also come equipped with Apple's custom-designed Apple W1 chip, which promises " better connection and improved sound."

iPhone owners have already taken to Twitter and Facebook to complain about the AirPods, which won't be released until December.