(Posting this here rather than !askandroid@lemdro.id as it’s a quite general question)
I had a look at the GSM Arena phone finder, and it the choice is getting smaller and smaller every year (only 43 phones from 2023, reviewed by the site, had a jack)
The remaining ones are mostly
- Xiaomi Redmi
- Zenfones
- Sony
- Samsung entry range
So, has everyone switched to Bluetooth / USB-C dongles, or are there still a few people holding to the jack until the very end?
I’ll die alone on this headphone jack hill if I need to, I only buy phones with headphone jacks.
Currently using a Motorola of some sort, replacement for another Motorola.
Only With the 3.5 mm audio jack. Bluetooth devices always have some delay, never are immune from connection problems or intermittent readback (especially if you have other devices you switch between), and don’t last as long as they advertise. The delay thing is particularly irksome on the phone and watching videos. Much less important for music, but I’m not the kinda guy who plays music a lot. The battery thing is probably less of an issue these days, and could maybe be discarded, but I also forget to charge important devices, so that’s a me thing and party of the reason.
Agree on most of your your points. Which phone do you use?
The No-Longer-Supported LG G7 ThinQ. Not upgrading until it blows up in my pocket.
My hill is the microsd card slot. I might have to figure out how to make my note 20 ultra last another 40 years, though. :-(
On another note; if compatible, APTX Bluetooth codec is pretty lag free when watching streaming videos. For local videos, there is a bit of noticeable lag on a lot of players, but I use VLC and it has an audio/video sync setting you can manually adjust so it matches up correctly and it will forever save that setup for you.
I used to hate Bluetooth, but that’s because the early versions were terrible. Painful to connect, frequent drops and disconnects, and very short range and easy to block the signal.
Since Bluetooth 4 it’s been great, and rock solid with Bluetooth 5. The only time I’ve had a problem is when I went into the other room and stood directly in front of a running microwave. I lost about half the signal until I took a step back.
Wireless headphones are far more convenient. Phone in my pocket, and I can walk around, clean the house, or work out at the gym, completely untethered.
Yeah I absolutely do not miss snagging my headphone cable on every door or drawer handle in a 1 mine radius. Also I think I used to go through 3-4 sets of headphones a year by wearing out the cable, spending the last few weeks precariously holding the cable 24/7 to enjoy the music.
Wireless does have it’s issues but I’m on my 2nd wireless pair, both bought in the £30 region and it’s probably been 5+ years since I used wired now. Battery hasn’t been an issue really, and although I lost one headphone on my previous wireless set, I can live with it.
I absolutely support the want for a headphone jack so people can choose wired, but I’d still choose wireless.
No jack = no buy.
What do you currently use?
One of the one plus that tmobile gave when they required 5g capability. It’s partially degoogled, but otherwise pretty standard. Headphone jack + sd slot, and it gets the job done. I can’t recall what the general name is, something like a nord 200 or whatever, but the model is de2118.
Decent phone overall tbh. I thought I would hate it, but the battery life is solid, the audio is “good enough” for road trips, and the size is just right for my hands.
I seek out phones with audio jacks. My current Moto G Power 2020 has one and I use it all the time. No dongles or adapters in the car or on various headphones. Plus I actually use the FM Radio built into the phone and that uses the wire for the headphones as an antenna. I just cut off some old earbuds and plug that in, then direct the audio to either the phone speaker itself or BT.
I had to give up removable batteries in phones but I will never give up 3.5 mm.
Which phone do you use?
Moto G7+, its old and wouldn’t recommend seeking one out.
Thanks!
I bought a Sony Xperia 10iii back in December 2022 for the headphone jack, SD card slot and IP rating. Plus it’s Sony and one of my all time best phones was my Xperia Z2.
When it comes time to replace it I will first look to see which phone offers a jack. I use it several times a week.
However the downside is that the only premium phones with it are Sony but very expensive. I can’t afford a 5v when though I’d love it.
If you get a midrange phone you always lose out on a great camera. Which is crappy. So you have to choose between headphone jack with poor cameras Vs no headphone jack with good cameras.
Or somehow get enough money together to buy an Xperia 5v.
Ps don’t bother with ZenFone. Asus is known for poor quality and very, very bad support
Or somehow get enough money together to buy an Xperia 5v.
Ps don’t bother with ZenFone. Asus is known for poor quality and very, very bad support
Thank you for your message.
Xperia 5 V looks indeed a very nice option on paper, but definitely pricey.
Thanks for the heads up on Zenfones
I exclusively use phones with a 3.5mm jack. Currently on a Sony Xperia 1 IV. That said, I also use bluetooth IEMs sometimes and I like having the option of switching between wired/wireless when convenient.
I’m still using it. I’ve got nice headphones and speakers that run off of a cable and no interest in top-end phones, so it makes sense to get a phone that fits the more expensive audio stuff rather than a bunch of adapters. Nokia’s cheaper smartphones have served me quite nicely
I’m fine with Bluetooth. My earbuds and speakers all have Bluetooth nowadays.
Wont buy a smartphone without it
What do you currently use?
Samsung XCover 6 Pro. Has a removable battery aswell.
I wouldnt buy a phone without it. Currently on Pocophone M5, happy user
I specifically bought a Pixel 5a because it was the last Pixel with a headphone jack. Then after a year, it died on me, and they sent me a 6a as a replacement.
I miss the jack. A lot. But it’s hard to justify buying a whole new phone for one. Once this one dies, I don’t know what I’ll do.
I was already using bluetooth headsets when they removed it so really didn’t care.
I gave up on it fairy easily, because after it was forced on us, the market also responded by flooding with cheap and decent options for headphones, which I started trying out and slowly I stopped using a wire with my phone.
I still think bluetooth is not great, with a lot of weird connection issues even on expensive devices, which was never a problem with a wire, but I do enjoy the freedom it offers.
