This is according to a recent patent discovered by the folks at AppleInsider in which it details several different designs that shows the headphone connector made from flexible or elastic material. By using such material, the plug, in theory, should be able to withstand bending that would have otherwise resulted in broken connectors. One of the proposals includes the incorporation of flexible elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers that when bent will go along with the direction without too much resistance, and return back to its normal state when the strain is removed.
This particular patent was filed for in 2013 and while there’s no telling if and when Apple will turn this patent into reality, it’s good to know that options are at least being explored.