Here's what you'll need if you want to use your headphones with an iPhone 7

Apple has confirmed it will be removing the headphone jack from its latest iPhone, requiring customers to use an adaptor or Apple-exclusive headphones.

The announcement came during today’s keynote presentation in San Francisco, with the tech company revealing users would only be able to plug their headphones into the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus via the phone’s Lightning charger port, using a Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle.

While the dongle is expected to be sold alongside with new iPhones, there are concerns the move to a Lightning-reliant plug may represent a renewed attempt by Apple to further embed users in its closed ecosystem.

The company has introduced new wireless AirPods earbuds, which do not use the universal Bluetooth wireless standard, but a new proprietary chip called the W1.

The W1 chip will only operate in devices running iOS 10, watchOS 3 and macOS Sierra, to the exclusion not only of non-Apple devices but older, incompatible Apple devices.

Apple described the decision as an act of “courage”, with head of marketing Phil Schiller saying the company wanted to make better use of the Apple-only Lightning port, eliminate the “ancient (headphone) connector” to free up design space, and explore wireless delivery.

“We know there are some people in the world who still have some old analogue devices,” Schiller said.

The AirPods are expected to retail for U$159 (A$207), while the Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle will cost U$9 (A$12).