Don’t get me wrong. Apple removing audio jack was the biggest facepalm in smartphone history. And you can thank it for not being able to make an upgrade without sacrificing audio jack (and SD card too :/). But USB-C is getting standardized everywhere now (laptops, smartphones, etc.). What makes USB-C earphones not worth the switch?
Downsides of usb-c headphones:
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Bluetooth security risk surface, exposes your phone to more attacks. (Nobody has mentioned this yet)
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Most/all phones have a single usb-c port. Charging and using headphones difficult
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Usb-c port placement is awkwardly on bottom of phone while must headphone jacks are on top of the phone. Plugging in your headphones on the bottom of the phone with a dongle is awkward.
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The entire process of using a usb-c dongle or using Bluetooth headphones makes the entire system more complicated. KISS (keep it simple). The more complexity there is that can go wrong, the worse the experience. If I’m taking a important conference call, I want my audio to just work.
Not directly related: the whole point of removing the headphone jack was to sell airpods. First apple, then android, and even fair phone. Each time the jack is removed to push sales of the branded Bluetooth ear buds. It’s a user hostile move.
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/apple-airpods-success
The excuse may be to save money, Space, water rating, but the reason is increased sales.
I personally still use a pixel 5A which had a headphone jack only because it’s the B tier phone for markets where people are less likely to also buy the airpods.
Loved my Pixel 5a until it died randomly over night a few weeks ago
I’ve really liked my pixel 5a as well. Always thought the Google phones had the perfect balance of features, design, and cost. I even got the pixel subscription when I got the 5a because I figured Google wouldn’t drop the ball. I get to upgrade to the latest pixel in 2 months and I think I’m gonna pass on pixel 7. Think I’m going to check out the Zenphone 10 because I really like the size and design.
It’s the last pixel with headphones. Last of the line.
Usb-c port placement is awkwardly on bottom of phone while must headphone jacks are on top of the phone. Plugging in your headphones on the bottom of the phone with a dongle is awkward.
Isn’t it more awkward to have the headphone jack on the top? If the jack is on the bottom it faces up when the phone is in a pocket.
So you put you phone upside down in pocket?
You don’t? When you hold a phone and then put it in your pocket it will naturally be going in top first.
Nope i don’t. When my hand goes down, i kind of like hold phone in the middle with two fingers and it will stay upright when i put the phone into pockets. Plus i know many people dping this
Nope i don’t. When my hand goes down, i kind of like hold phone in the middle with two fingers and it will stay upright when i put the phone into pockets
Right, fair enough. For me, and I would assume most people, we hold our phones upright when using them, and then put them down in our pocket without re-arranging the phone in our hand, ending up with the phone top down and with the screen against our body.
Btw i don’t rearrage it much it kinda comes automatically i wanna show you some kind of animation lol. Its like the phone stays upright when going from hand to pocket
Multiple phone scenarios where headphone on top is better. Using phone on a stand, using phone propped up on something, resting phone on your chest while watching something in bed.
If android let the screen rotate upside down I suppose i wouldn’t care about top or bottom anymore.
I have a headphone jack and it’s on the bottom of my phone next to the USB?
Oh interesting. What model? How do you like the location? Ever use the headphones with your phone in your pocket?
It’s a Motorola Moto 5G+ if I remember rightly. I realised a few years back that mobile phone tech had plateaued for what I need so I no longer bother with flagships, this one was sub £300, had SD Card and headphone support and NFC for payments so looked promising and I have no complaints. Ironically I don’t mind using Bluetooth earbuds so rarely use the port but I like to have the choice. My old man just picked a newer model of the same phone which seems to have all the same features and he’s happy.
Not the person you answered, but I have the same location. Samsung M51 (7000mAh battery ftw). I put my phone into my left front pocket facing downward anyway, since that’s the direction of my hand, so it’s natural, so the headphone jack faces the right direction. I like this location better than on the top side.
how is using bluetooth headset making it more complicated…
All other points are valid.
Bluetooth complication over a wired headset:
- Battery charge levels
- Radio interference
- Bluetooth time sharing with other devices
- Bluetooth devices getting stolen by another device while in use (ever had two phones paired to one headset?)
- Bluetooth microphone audio quality levels are not great
I’M MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS CRANKIN MY HOG WHEN MY BT HEADPHONES DIE AND THE WHOLE HOUSE HEARS PORN BLARE OUT MY PHONE SPEAKERS.
I’M A PERSON WITH NEEDS TOO MOM! DEAL WITH IT!!!
- Damn I miss r/THE_PACK
except most device stop any media when the headphones are disconeted.
- A delay between the time you turn it on and the time it connects. Sometimes they will not connect and you need to go to settings.
- When using headset with more than 1 device, it will connect to the wrong one. And the number of slots is limited.
- Anecdotal,but in a big airport if i kept my phone lower than chest-height, audio was choppy because of interference.
This is a good example of the general enshitificstion of a service. Make part of the experience worse to drive sales or engagement with another part of the service. Just like Reddit, just like Twitter… It’s user hostile. It means the marketplace is failing
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Spoken by someone who only has USB-C laptops and phones. I have a lot more equipment that outputs audio, plus, all the good hardware either has a 3.5mm, 6.5mm or a 2.5mm plug.
Yeah. I can put a 3.5 -> C adapter on my headphones but there’s no such thing as the reverse. And given that one-way path, it’d be nice if I didn’t a dongle everywhere.
Because it needs an extra dongle that isn’t free and most headphones use an ordinary audio jack.
Charging while listening.
And above all, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
And above all, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
This is actually terrible logic and stifles innovation. The flip phone wasn’t broke…but now we have smart phones with screens.
Just a friendly reminder to folks to keep it civil and to reserve downvotes for things that are inappropriate, not disagreement! 🙂
I downvoted it for spreading incorrect information and being incoherent. Happy?
Touchscreen fixes the problem of maximizing the screen on the device. How does removing a jack port fixes the audio problem?
Condenses the ports to one standard. Instead of an audio and a USB-C, you just have a USB-C. So now you can fit more/different stuff in the internals or streamline the device to make it slightly smaller or thinner. Far enough down the line when most everyone is on board, can remove support for it from the kernel, minimizing the code footprint, attack surface, and code maintenance.
Sure, it sucks now as we’re in the midst of it and people are resistant to change, but fast forward to when it’s universally adopted and accepted, it’ll be better.
Why should we condense the ports into 1? This is worse, not better. In fact some Chinese phones also have an IR blaster so you can control your TV and Aircon from the phone.
As for thinness is the phone, my Sony Xperia 10iii is 5.9" and very thin. Probably the smallest phone on the market and it has a headphone jack, SD card slot, and full IP68 waterproofing. Plus 3 lense camera. No need for massive stove top lenses on the back.
It can easily fit on any phone. The jack is tiny. It’s just a lie from the manufacturers to force you to buy expensive Bluetooth headphones.
My wired in ear headphones take up WAY less space in my pocket than bog bulky Bluetooth headphones with their charging case.
But this is almost all false or just speculation.
Instead of having audio and usb-c, now you have usb-c port, usb-c headphone dongle, the finally audio port and usb-c port again. Unless you want to intentionally buy a usb-c exclusive set of headphones that won’t work with whatever next “revolutionary port technology” comes out.
As long as they still work, good headphones from 40 years ago are still good. Headphone tech has not significantly changed. Amps, DACs, etc have, but not the actual drivers.
As far as space goes, reasonable DAC components are getting smaller and smaller while phones tend to be getting larger as people want more screen space. The space savings on hardware here is not significant. Seriously go and look up sizes of the components needed for audio out.
As far as thinner goes, the width needed for a headphone jack is like 2mm more than what’s needed for a usb-c port, and there’s width needed for internal speakers either way. I’m also not sure how much thinner people want cell phones to be at this point. We’re pretty close to the point of sacrificing device drop resistance for size anyway (arguably we’ve passed that point with most people doubling the size of their phone with a protective case). Not to mention that the real thing preventing more thinness is the camera lenses now, as easily evidenced by the camera island bumps all phones have now.
Lastly, you can’t seriously be arguing that analog audio out represents any significant amount of attack surface kernel wise. Like holy shit man. Wow. Yes, technically every line of code is increased attack surface, but it’s a huge assumption that USB-C audio is in any way more secure or less surface.
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Instead of having audio and usb-c, now you have usb-c port, usb-c headphone dongle, the finally audio port and usb-c port again. Unless you want to intentionally buy a usb-c exclusive set of headphones that won’t work with whatever next “revolutionary port technology” comes out.
Standards change as they get developed and better, sorry. I don’t see the “new revolutionary port technology” coming out in the next couple of decades, especially with the EU forcing USB-C on all (which is a good thing). USB-C is still fairly new and not adopted everywhere. And I’d bet money that most people don’t keep 40 year old headphones. Like, I said, sure it sucks now because we’re in the middle of it.
Yes, technically every line of code is increased attack surface, but it’s a huge assumption that USB-C audio is in any way more secure or less surface.
Except the USB-C is here to stay for a good bit…unless you’re proposing making it a power only connectors? Some secure devices do that, but why handicap the new port on mobile device that has limited space? So yes, removing the audio port code portion on a device with no audio port makes sense, when we get there.
Space is at a premium in phones as they are already fairly small and cramped. And why duplicate the ports (have two audio ports) simply because you don’t want to buy a dongle or a new headset to replace 40 year old devices that have drastically been improved?
You’re coming at this from the angle that the headphones are just going to be used with the phone. Why should the headphones I use for my desktop amp, digital drum set, music work, etc all change to support my phone?
I get for the vast majority of people they use headphones with their phones and that’s why this was allowed to happen, but in music the overwhelming majority of headphones use the standard jack and I can tell you there is no way in hell that is changing any time soon. People pay a lot of money for audio equipment and they’re not throwing it out to use the crappy DAC built into headphones.
Is this niche? Sure. But it’s a standard that has worked and will continue to work forever due to its simplicity. The analogue headphone jack will long outlive USB-C, mark my words.
Charging while listening.
No problem with a proper USB C dongle.
Something in me doesn’t like having my headphones, on my head, plugged in the same 0.2ct device made in China the cheapest possible to my main electrical outlet.
The amount of strain put on the port will be insane if it’s in your pocket moving around, compared to the nice neat jack.
I just went with Bluetooth in the end
I didn’t see that as one of the included accessories though. I shouldn’t have to pay more to access basic functionality.
I shouldn’t have to pay more to access basic functionality.
I fully agree. I’m not defending getting rid of headphone jacks, I’m just saying that workarounds that allow charging exist and luckily the 10 or so Euro/Dollars is not that bad.
When I’m on the go I much prefer wireless, no cables to impede my movements and the quality loss gets nullified by ambient noise, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy Hi-fi audio anyway so I keep my headphones and DAC home where I have all the bandwidth in the world and the silence to enjoy the quality of the recordings and of my cans.
Oh good, something else for me to lose.
I much prefer two ports.
I much prefer two ports.
Im not saying that a dedicated headphone jack wouldn’t be better, I’m just saying that dongles that support both exist.
I might be swayes if phones had two usb-c ports . That would be nice
Exactly, most headphones that I like are wired with an ordinary audio jack. I don’t really feel inclined to get new headphones for a new phone, and a phone without an audio jack just makes things more difficult for me.
You don’t need new headphones though, just the usb-c adaptor, which you can leave permanently attached to the cable (if you only use them with your phone/laptop).
I don’t know, leaving the adapter awkwardly protruding permanently on my phone is just unsightly
Permanently attached to the end of the cable, not the phone.
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Because all USB C to 3.5mm Aux adapters are flimsy as mother fuckers that break down after two months use. I would not even care otherwise, I never charge and listen at same time anyway.
If anyone has suggestions for adapter that is not made out of thinnest possible wire and is durable, let me know.
Also, I don’t want to buy USB-C headphones, since I would only use those with my phone, I want to use them also on other devices, and for compatibility it is better to have it analog instead of USB-C. If I were to buy headphones for phone only, I would just get wireless.
I often have use cases at work where I have to plug in my headphones to device I am not familiar with, for audio troubleshooting at our customers device. Most of the times USB is not an option, only standard analog audio.
Modern laptops also come with way too few USB ports, 2.0 and C combined, so I rather not waste one for audio since there is no reason for audio to go through USB. On my main PC I don’t use my internal soundcard but external audio interface for music production, and I want my headphones connected to that, not USB.
So in conclusion, USB-C headphones would be totally worthless to me, no matter the device. Even for phone, I rather go with adapter, or just wireless ones.
Because its not good to reward bad behaviour
The Sony phones still have audio jacks
My new phone is a flagship and does have a headphone jack (ASUS Zenfone 10), but I will rarely use it. Sometimes it’s definitely convenient to be able to plug in some random headphones or speakers, but usually the port just literally collects dust. It actually filled up so bad on my previous phone, that any jack I plugged in didn’t stay plugged in. However, that phone is now 6 years old.
For that get a toothpick and just dig around in there. Same for the charging port if the connection is loose when plugged in.
Uses more power and it creates thermal strain on a single point-of-failure port if you want to both charge and listen to music with a poxy dongle.
All this “innovation” does is create more e-waste.
At least on the Fairphone you can trivially swap out the USB-C port when it breaks. And using it for audio moves that from an if to a when, in particular on a phone designed to be used for at least 5 years.
But that’s okay, since you can swap it out. On any other phone: Fuck USB-C audio! The port is fragile enough as it is.
I’m still rocking my OG Note 8, granted this thing is a tank, I’ve never had to replace the port c charger. (But I also have an aux port) However! Any time i feel like m port is finally dying, it really just needs to be cleaned. Get a little toothpick an try cleaning before you ever replace, 9 times out of 10 it’s just got some gunk or something lodged in there.
Great answers here that I 100% agree with, can’t add much
My car is old and I can’t afford a new one, it’s 3.5mm or a bluetooth speaker in the passenger seat.
Get a Bluetooth FM transmitter, some are very decent
bleutooth to fm isnt optiomal since even less secure then bluetooth. Just get a aux bluetooth dongle.
So what? You think someone will hijack your music signal?
Not me but some other people here brought up the concern that bluetooth isnt secure. That’s why I pointed out that fm is even less secure.
even so, it’s only music
Or just keep buying phones with 3.5mms as long as I can and be angry about being forced into this shit.
Are there any waterproof USB-C headphones?
i dont even use my jack much, i just fucking hate the lack of options. if my headphones are dead i can still use them with the jack, and i can plug into older cars that only have the jack without shuffling around for a dongle
taking away my options is taking away my service with phones, still using my galaxy s9+ till it dies
I use my earphones for both my PC and my phone. Seems kind of dumb I have to disconnect the dongle when I go from phone to PC and vise versa.
I use my Bluetooth earbuds this way but they seamlessly connect to both devices at once.
A lot of the answers are good and make sense. Sometimes folks have an impression that wired is better even on some super old, crappy headphones.
If they love those wired buds, they won’t want a phone without the jack.
Source: My fiance’s mom thinks her new phone is bad since it doesn’t work with her ancient crappy earbuds.
Well im obvioulsy not gonna throw away my old HD-600s over wireless headphones. because you guessed it, they ARE better.
I can’t charge my phone and listen to stuff at the same time, and my headphone jack headphones work with every device but a new phone. Don’t know why I would want to throw that convenience away all because Apple/every other manufacturer decided we should get rid of headphone jacks.
Lol I charge it either wirelessly or use a splitter. I have never had a problem using usbc or Bluetooth. I have a tablet with audio jack and I never use it. I also have connected my phone to a USB hub and used gaming headsets and other peripherals.
I always hear this argument, but seriously how often is this a problem?
I plug my phone in in the car and when I go to bed at night. Neither time of which I would be listening to music
Many people listen to music and podcasts while driving cars.
Typically through the car speakers though
I can’t tell which side of the argument your response is supposed to fall on…
Yes, people typically listen through their car speakers. Good job. Gold star.
But not all cars have Bluetooth connectivity. There’s still a lot of people who drive vehicles that have to rely on 3.5mm connections (either directly, or with cassette or even CD adapters!). Or maybe their car supports Bluetooth audio, but they prefer the higher fidelity audio that a 3.5mm interface provides vs Bluetooth.Maybe I’m missing something here. But this response holds no water.
I don’t deny that there are a significant number of people that still use the 3.5mm jack when driving
But I believe that the majority of people do not.
I do this……using a lightning adapter that has a 3.5mm jack and a lightning charging port. It’s not a problem.
Planes, overnight flights is a great example where this becomes a problem
But once again, how often is this a problem? I would say the majority of people are not in overnight flights that often
I’m daily commuting via train. There are USB chargers everywhere in the cars, so this is pretty significant. And don’t tell me to buy another wireless gadget I have to charge before I go - or some USB buds that won’t work with my other devices, since USB-C is just a plug, not a Standard.
And you need to carry the charging case, and a 2nd usb cable
Why do you need to carry a second cable?
Also the charging case for wireless earbuds is easier to carry than wired headphones.
There is a huge part of the world wide population that uses their phones constantly and need to constantly charge the phone. As an example think of a parking lot attendent sitting in a booth, nothing to do but play on the phone all day…
I relax in my bed and listen to music or watch stuff, and I’d like to charge my phone while I’m close to the socket
you are aware that other people live different lives to you, and do things differently right? I listen to music to fall asleep, and I plug my phone into my car via the 3.5mm jack to listen to music. You ask how often it would be a problem? It would be a problem every single day
You sleep with wired headphones on?
Gaming.
Games typically need low latency audio, so Bluetooth is out. Games can also burn through battery, so you want to plug in after a while.
And how many games that require perfect audio latency did you play on your phone in the last weeks?
I play a fair bit of Bullet Echo. Having 100+ ms of latency with Bluetooth headphones is a pain. It burns through my battery pretty quickly, so I often end up plugging in my phone.
It isn’t a big deal - but being able to charge and headphone would be nice.
There are usc to headphone + usbc charger adapters
I know this, and they suck (it’s another freaking cord to carry around in your pockets), and it’s unnecessary in the face of just getting a phone that doesn’t need it!
In my particular case, that setup sucks for my car. The adapter advertises having a microphone but my car’s aux port doesn’t have one.
I would use Bluetooth but the car’s Bluetooth is the worst damned thing I’ve ever had the displeasure of using. It sucks even by Bluetooth standards. The car even forbids pairing/unpairing while the car is in drive, which is great for nanny-stating the morons who try to do that while operating the car but what about when I’m the passenger?! The car’s mostly used for family road trips and that kind of inflexibility makes it a nonstarter.
