iPhone 7 release date, specs rumors: Flagship keeping 3.5 mm headphone jack according to new leak

In a new leak out of the Chinese social media platform Weibo, the rumor mill favorite Apple iPhone 7 was depicted holding on to its 3.5 mm headphone jack, which rumors said will be ditched by Apple for an all-in-one Lightning port.

Widespread speculations about the flagship suggest that in an effort to make the device thinner, Apple will develop its own Lightning earpods that should work alongside the Lightning port.

Now, the surfaced photo seems to imply that Apple is sticking with it. The leak featured the alleged Lightning cable assembly of the iPhone 7, which was shown with room for the 3.5mm headphone jack.

There's no way of knowing for sure if the image is the real deal. It was only sent anonymously to French tech portal Nowhereelse via Weibo.

Cases of fabrications and hoaxes are everywhere especially in the world of smartphones and games so the authenticity of the image is still in question. This is why it is best to take in with a grain of salt.

The iPhone family gets thinner every year. Apple always finds a way to shave off new releases to make them look sleeker and lighter. It is a mystery how the tech giant at Cupertino will pull this off now, with the headphone jack still intact.

Amidst the countless rumors and reports about the iPhone 7, Apple stays silent until the actual unveiling of the product. However, in an interview with CNBC's "Mad Money," Apple CEO Tim Cook teased what to expect in the new iPhone.

"We are going to give you things that you can't live without that you just don't know you need today," Cook told host Jim Cramer. As one would expect, he did not get into detail about that.

There are lots of specs that are being attached to the iPhone 7, including a dual camera setup, an iris scanner and a curved glass back, a waterproof design, an improved battery life and a 256 GB variant.

The Apple iPhone 7 is expected to make a splash this September.