Sunday debate: Is removing the headphone jack the way forward?

21 January 2018
In this installment of our Sunday debate, we discuss whether removing the headphone jack is the way forward.

Sort by:

  • D
  • AnonD-625430
  • gNS
  • 21 Jan 2018

Blueborne vulnerability?

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • ELT
    • 21 Jan 2018

    Anonymous, 21 Jan 2018Phone makers: get USB type C to 3.5mm adaptor (connector)..... moreWhat you get: buy an adaptor (black) in pack is second adaptor (white) first (black) FULL-ON notched edition und second adaptor (white) is Psy-Dub notched edition, thanks for you buy..

      • D
      • AnonD-625430
      • gNS
      • 21 Jan 2018

      I'm writing this post as I'm listening to music on my Galaxy S7 through my newly purchased Sennheiser wired earphones.. It's even better than the Samsung supplied earphones. Never really enjoyed music this much before. Listening to Bom Diggy by Zack Knight & Jasmin Walia. What a song! The sound quality is really damn good through the earphones. The sound output through the earphones is perfect to my taste and thanks to the UHQ Upscaler option in the Samsung Music Player app, it feels high resolution. I always download 320kbps mp3s as FLAC audio would eat up my storage. Back to the topic, 3.5mm jack is a standard, you can use the same 3.5mm jack wired earphones on almost any device which uses a 3.5mm jack and the best thing is that you need not to keep bluetooth turned on always or charge your wired earphones to be able to enjoy music. With wireless Bluetooth earphones, you'll need to charge it from time to time apart from many other devices to charge and in order to enjoy music, you'll need to keep Bluetooth turned on which in turn drains the battery, regardless of the low energy consumption both on the earphone and the phone. I don't know if wireless earphones can last longer for say 3 years without the battery dying but I guess, it will most likely be the case. Wireless earphones might seem cool to use because it is wireless and we are moving towards "smart everything" era where every device has some sort of smart voice assistant, AI and IoTs built-in. Manufacturers these days have ran out of innovative ideas, everything these days are influenced by trends. I miss those old days when there was variety of designs and every phone had a distinct personality of its own. It should depend on the user whether to use wired earphones or wireless one. With the removal of 3.5mm jack, there's only three ways, either use Bluetooth earphones or USB Type C earphones or USB Type C to 3.5mm jack adapter to use your wired earphones. USB Type C is rated better than 3.5mm jack for wear & tear, so that's something great. I remember my very first multimedia phone (Samsung C3010) didn't have a 3.5mm jack and I had to use the proprietary USB 2.0 earphones which when got damaged was tough to find. OEMs telling that 3.5mm jack takes up too much space inside and tech journalists endorsing the same are LYING. They should instead make the 3.5mm jack more tough and separate from the motherboard so that if it gets damaged, the entire motherboard won't require to be changed. You can fit a big battery while still retaining the 3.5mm jack. World's slimmest phone isn't the world's most selling phone anyway. I'm not ready to give up my wired earphones yet. I'll ditch the brand who ditches the 3.5mm jack. It's that simple.

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • ELT
        • 21 Jan 2018

        Phone makers: get USB type C to 3.5mm adaptor (connector).. What's new in stores!? Notched edition xD

          • D
          • AnonD-140268
          • 6QC
          • 21 Jan 2018

          not just headphones, my huge yamaha speakers and amp needs 3.5mm, and my car needs 3.5mm
          i cant live without it, not yet perhaps

            I know that the V30 and/or V30 + depicted in the images associated with this article are relevant to the second author's pro 3.5 jack commentary (plus they contain quad DAC tech). Yet, sadly, the V30 duo are what I characterize as relatively uncomfortable to hold phablets. I have spent time using a V30 and for my hands it was too big. I wish the G6 duo have a newer high end SoC!

              • D
              • AnonD-731363
              • SH3
              • 21 Jan 2018

              remove jack Remove Jack REMOVE JACK remove Remove REMOVE :-)
              And we all could have much more freedom.

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • sw9
                • 21 Jan 2018

                It's the way forward - it just happens to be the wrong way and I will not accept it yet (if I ever will). There is nothing that can replace it that doesn't cause it's own inconveniences.

                Phones already are port-starved devices compared to laptops (because they are more space-constrained, I get it). I think 3.5mm jack + USB-port is the bare minimum for a modern functional hassle free device. Either that or TWO USB ports then. I will not accept expensive device that comes with such hurdle, I already have ownes Nokia's with 2.5mm jack and Samsung's with that proprietary 20-pin connector nonsense and I don't want to go BACKWARDS.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • qNg
                  • 21 Jan 2018

                  Anonymous, 21 Jan 2018Removing the wire and voliá you have even more freedomYou made me laugh. Thank you ^_^ .

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • ELT
                    • 21 Jan 2018

                    It's unbelievable when this good option (3.5mm Jack. H) is simple, easy to use, budget friendly.. Can I have better replacements instead 3.5mm of hole!? Can you give me exclusive USB type c or HDMI exclusively to use for headphones/earphones!? Answer the question it is: No

                      • D
                      • AnonD-82756
                      • nFb
                      • 21 Jan 2018

                      I don't really care if they remove it or not I never use it so, also in the vote they should have included the don't care option

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • AGL
                        • 21 Jan 2018

                        HP, 21 Jan 2018If people are going to ditch 3.5mm audio jack, why dont the... moreIP69 isn't even a thing, doesn't go higher than 68.....

                          • D
                          • AnonD-391304
                          • fsx
                          • 21 Jan 2018

                          The short answer is NO and 83% of readers here and elsewhere say so. It's one of the few timeless inventions and has been so successful because of its simplicity and versatility. Don't like the headsets the airlines give you? Use your own. Until the USB-C is adopted universally like the 3.5mm jack it'll remain another unwanted trend that Crapple popularized against consumers wishes.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 0BG
                            • 21 Jan 2018

                            Anonymous, 21 Jan 2018Removing the wire and voliá you have even more freedomNonsense!
                            I don't want to be a slave of another device that needs recharging (Ummm, cables! Carrying around chargers/cables ) and needs to be replaced as soon as the battery starts dying. And not to mention my car stereo where i'll still need a dongle too, so that means even more cables/adapters.
                            Pure insanity AND total lack of freedom.

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • 04e
                              • 21 Jan 2018

                              AnonD-508218, 21 Jan 2018Love my 3.5 jack and freedom.Removing the wire and voliá you have even more freedom

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • LkA
                                • 21 Jan 2018

                                s4f786, 21 Jan 2018Is removing the headphone jack right now the right move, im... moreWireless is still not on pair with wired.
                                Also bluetooth/nfc spends energy ..

                                  Is removing the headphone jack right now the right move, imo no. When Bluetooth headsets can give the same quality and price to it's wired counter part then maybe, and that's a hard maybe, battery life, Bluetooth version also come into play aswell. For those saying oh the iPhone is trailblazing, apple could remove the camera and their users would still buy it

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • qJ}
                                    • 21 Jan 2018

                                    harwey, 21 Jan 2018I think a 3.5mm jack isn't only issue here.Going wireless i... moreI like my headphones to work 10h without recharge.. And to still work the next day...

                                      • H
                                      • HP
                                      • KZ8
                                      • 21 Jan 2018

                                      If people are going to ditch 3.5mm audio jack, why dont they removes altogether USB Type-C and any port build unto the phone to make it easier to be more water and dust resistant. Why we need ti have IP68 if we can have IP69 phone?

                                      But with the removal of audio jack, Apple still got ip67 instead of ip68. Some phone who still keeping audio jack can make it into ip68. How ironic. What a shame to these lame excuses.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • qJ}
                                        • 21 Jan 2018

                                        AnonD-375713, 21 Jan 2018That's the issue with tech: why do we NEED to ditch it at a... moreThe thing ppl dont get is that usb and wireless headsets still NEED a dac (digital to analog conversion) but inside the headset. Ie it's still analog because humans listen to analog waves produced by speakers. But even this is too complicated for some to understand...