Are Apple’s new wireless headphones a blessing or a curse?

Just when we start to think Apple couldn’t possibly throw us another curveball, they go ahead and ditch the headphones jack—leaving us with, you guessed it, wireless headphones. The typical audio port is no more with the new Apple AirPods, and users aren’t too eager to welcome the change.

It was only a matter of time before Apple came out with an iPhone that had a wireless audio feature such as this one, given that cord-cutting is becoming the current technological trend of the era. Being that Apple is unarguably the frontrunner for digital advancement, they of course spearheaded the wireless headphone concept for the new iPhone 7.

However, the news came as a pang to the lifestyles and wallets of numerous Apple users. With the iPhone 7 starting at $649 and it’s headphones retailing at around $160, some may question if the upgrade is really worth it. You can’t realistically obtain the new iPhone without also buying the corresponding wireless headphones, leaving most of the general population both unwilling and unable to pay for the new device.

Aside from the obvious issue of price, what really appears to have millennials up in arms is the ridiculous concept of free-floating ear buds. The change doesn’t bode well for those who misplace small items easily, nor does it rally up the creatures of habit who have loyally supported wired headphones. Some are jokingly saying that users will lose the AirPods before they even get their hands on them.

The fact of the matter is that we all have to upgrade our iPhones eventually due to a lack of storage, usability, etc. so does that mean we all have to inevitably fall in line with the iPhone 7’s AirPods whether we like it or not?

The good news is that the benefits of Apple’s new headphones might actually overshadow the highly talked about negative components. The cordless feature not only contributes to a less-messy, less-complex lifestyle, but “Apple insists that removing the headphone jack was an act of ‘courage’ a bold willingness to sacrifice the comfortably familiar and push us towards the wireless headphone future. Plus, ditching the classic 3.5 mm jack apparently makes room for bigger batteries and better cameras inside the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus” (http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-7-airpods-master-plan-2016-9). Who doesn’t want better quality pictures and a battery life to last longer than 10 minutes? I personally think I can make the sacrifice.

Taking into account the pros and cons of the new development, Apple users may very well overcome their uneasy feelings towards change in light of the AirPods’ positive attributes. With that being said, is now the time to get on board with the Apple empire’s new development, or do we wait to get lost in the crowds of fossilized iPhone users?