Do you ever see Android flagships removing the headphone jack?

[The Game 161]

No headphone jack on the upcoming iphone has caused a stir amount apple fans. Do you think this will happen with android flagships going forward?

As currently you have to think they see this as a good chance to get more apple fans to switch as it currently stands for those who may be unhappy.

What you think?

 

[nj-morris]

Not quite yet, no. Maybe in the future, if they can find a solution with USB-C, bu for now I think it will just be a selling point for Android phones.

 

[Surf Donkey]

The Moto Z has already done it. The rest will follow.

 

[nfl46]

Now, we all know damn well Samsung will remove the headphone jack next year. This may happen around the time the S8 comes out in early 2017. Or they may wait until the Note 8 in Fall 2017.

My guess is by end of 2018, you'd rarely see flagships with headphone jacks.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Now, we all know damn well Samsung will remove the headphone jack next year. This may happen around the time the S8 comes out in early 2017. Or they may wait until the Note 8 in Fall 2017.

My guess is by end of 2018, you'd rarely see flagships with headphone jacks.

I think Samsung learned their lesson from removing the SD slot on 2015 flagship phones. Not saying it will never happen, but even Samsung won't attempt it anytime soon.

 

[epicrayban]

I'm on the side that thinks this trend will not take on. At least not soon.

Just doesn't make sense to.

Unless, as someone said, they find a better solution with USB C. Until then, don't think so. Some might, but not all.

Finding a solution with USB C is probably inevitable anyway.

 

[Spink10]

Samsung will follow Apple - copycat hardware

 

[tbayrgs]

I think it's probably just a matter of time. This move is right in Apple's wheelhouse and we've too often seen the rest of the industry often follow suit. This change is exactly the same as ditching floppy or optical drives though and I think the rest of the industry is taking notes. If there isn't a ton of pushback by consumers to Apple removing it, I think we'll see their Android counterparts follow suit shortly thereafter.

I personally don't care either way as I honestly can't remember the last time I plugged headphones into any of my devices. I'm not an audiophile and hate being tethered with dangling wires. My preferred Bluetooth headphones (Plantronics BackBeat Fit) have good battery life, are very lightweight, portable, water/sweat resistant, and sound plenty good enough for my needs. If I ever do need to use wired headphones again, I'll just use whatever adapter is needed--lightning or USB-C.

 

[gotluck]

It bothers me because there are no advantages.

Bluetooth and lightning audio out exist on the 6s

I use an aux cord in my car daily though

 

[jamezr]

I think Samsung learned their lesson from removing the SD slot on 2015 flagship phones. Not saying it will never happen, but even Samsung won't attempt it anytime soon.

I was about to say the same thing. They might eventually but not anytime soon. I think Samsung listens to its customers a little me than Apple.
They might wait and see how well received this move is first.

 

[nj-morris]

It bothers me because there are no advantages.

Bluetooth and lightning audio out exist on the 6s

I use an aux cord in my car daily though

Bothers me too. It's literally no extra space, and the chassis is way thick enough to house it. If it weren't for Apple's vendetta against I/O...

 

[lowendlinux]

I think by this time in 2018 headphone jacks will be hard to find.

 

[maflynn]

At some point yes, a couple of makers may go their own route and design a proprietary port, like Apple did, but in all in all, most will probably just embrace USB-C

 

[MRU]

Moto Z
LeEco LE2, LE2 Pro, LE Max

There you have 4 Android phones without headphone ports before the iPhone 7 is announced - therefore who is following suit ? Essentially it looks like it may just be a direction the industry decides to take, for better or for worse.

 

[Fernandez21]

I don't get why suddenly getting rid of the headphone is a thing. It really serves no purpose to remove it. Bluetooth headsets are coming along, no need to remove it to spur that along.

And what's gained from its removal? Don't say thinner phones because an iPod shuffle is much thinner then current phones and it has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Don't say bigger battery, Samsung has already fit a battery with almost 1,000mah battery more then the 6S Plus in a frame that's actually smaller with a headphone jack. Again, can't be waterproofing because waterproof phones with headphone jacks are currently available too.

 

[gotluck]

Agreed the comparisons with optical and floppy drives don't hold water for me because those are relatively huge components and were replaced with something at least arguably better

 

[Fernandez21]

Agreed the comparisons with optical and floppy drives don't hold water for me because those are relatively huge components and were replaced with something at least arguably better

Exactly, this is completely different.

An iMac is stationary, so getting rid of the floppy might have been inconvenient, but you just buy an external drive, plug it in once and leave it. Plus, the cd-drive which replaced it was far superior, and more universal, cd's were used in more places then just your pc.

Removing the cd-drive from laptops too made a lot more sense. It allowed for substantially bigger batteries and much thinner laptops. Internet speeds had gotten to the point where most of our media came from there. And there were already large format USB memory sticks available too.

When they got rid of the iPod connector in favor of lightning, that too was for a much better port and it was a 10 year old proprietary port used on 3 devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPods) being replaced by another proprietary port used on those same 3 devices, not a 50 year old universal port used by hundreds of thousands of devices being replaced by a proprietary port used by only 3.

This would be like Apple getting rid of the USB connector in the macs and replacing it with FireWire 2.0 instead of something universal (like USB-C which is has done in the MacBook).

While I love the lightning connector and think it's the best digital connector available, unless Apple plans on opening that up so everyone can use it, I think it would be bad the get rid of the headphone jack. I don't want to have a pair of headphones that only work with my iPhone, and then have to get another pair that will only work with my android phones, and then have another that will only work with my MacBook.

 

[gotluck]

An adapter isn't a huge deal, I just don't get why!? All I can see is $ as the reason. It's that cynicism that will keep me from fully embracing Apple

/continues reading about hackintoshs because I just can't deal with their Mac lineup yet want a Mac..

 

[tbayrgs]

An adapter isn't a huge deal, I just don't get why!? All I can see is $ as the reason. It's that cynicism that will keep me from fully embracing Apple

/continues reading about hackintoshs because I just can't deal with their Mac lineup yet want a Mac..

Hit the nail on the head...it's simply a money play. I'm sure 3rd party OEMs will have to pay some sort of licensing to get MFI certification to allow their headphones with a lightning connector to properly function. And you can bet some of the first available headphones with a lightning connector will be Beats models. Add the $30 they'll likely charge for the adapter and you have a classic Apple ploy.

It's this kind of bs that has me wishing I didn't like the overall Apple ecosystem so much. For the first time since I got my first Mac and iPhone, this year will see me standing pat with all of my current Apple hardware. Problem is I still just don't see a comparable Android phone, smart watch, tablet combo that rivals what I have in my iPhone/Apple Watch/iPP setup (Mac is absolutely safe...nothing from Windows/Chrome OS will take these out of my lineup for the far foreseeable future ).

 

[The Game 161]

An adapter isn't a huge deal, I just don't get why!? All I can see is $ as the reason. It's that cynicism that will keep me from fully embracing Apple

/continues reading about hackintoshs because I just can't deal with their Mac lineup yet want a Mac..

well least rumours are an adapter will be included in the box.

 

[Klyster]

My old LG Viewty had a proprietary headphone jack.
I thought we'd got past stupid plugs?

That said, I wouldn't care that much if the phone manufacturers go back to proprietary plugs as I use Bluetooth headphones and not that often anyway.
It wouldn't be a factor in my decision to buy a new smartphone.

 

[From A Buick 8]

well least rumours are an adapter will be included in the box.

Just like the 30 pin adapter that was in box when they went to the lightning plug

 

[Shanghaichica]

If Apple have a hit with the iPhone 7 then android smart phones will follow suit.

 

[Savor]

I think if the removal of the headphone jack is for water resistance and hopefully maintaining a very loud and clear external speaker, it doesn't bother me much. I know S7 edge and a few others like the Xperia Z3 still have a headphone jack with water resistance and no flaps. But I rarely use headphones on my phone anymore except to turn on the FM radio which I know Apple won't be adding.

I think some of the rumors of the 2017 iPhones is turning me off and making me want the 2016 iPhone 7. This might be the last metal rear back of an iPhone until the glass that seems to go Xperia Z/S6/S7-ish for the next three years. I remember back in 2010, I joked and told myself I wouldn't get another iPhone until 7 because 7 is one of my favorite numbers next to 4 since I was born on a 4th. Then I saw iPhone 5 and kept telling myself until 7 because I don't like the #6. Now it might come true...

The iPhone 7 might be the first iPhone I truly want since the 4. It took over six years of dreaming about it and it might finally become true. Space black to subdue the black rear lines, no physical home button, and water resist please? I will just get the 32gb version since my cheap Androids can take care of all my media with 64gb microsd for $20 and can play AVI and MKV. The iPhone 7 ironically will rotate around a trio of sim cards I use. So I will have one Android, iOS, and WP for each sim.

Not really excited about another iPhone since I am a true Android fan but I have been turned off by the 10th anniversary iPhone so much with its rumors and being too Sony and Samsung-like, I might as well consider heavily getting the iPhone 7. The SE is too small. The "4.7 iPhone 7 is close enough as the perfect size for me.

 

[MH01]

Don't see why they would , the headphone jack gives them an advantage once Apple removes theirs .

The reason Apple is removing it, they get MFI $$$ profits. Samsung etc don't have a MFI program so there is no point , only reason that Apple is removing it , is due to TC wanting more profits from accessories and the damn 3.5mm is not giving him $$$, silly greed decision .

This will also drive away some users to android. I can't see users jumping to Apple cause they removed the 3.5mm and headphones cost extra