Do you ever see Android flagships removing the headphone jack?

[Tsepz]

I don't see it happening, and even if they do, I see it going the way of MicroSD, they'll take it away, only to bring it back.

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

Very slim chance they will, what I do see happening is them taking advantage and showing that they offer both USB and 3.5mm audio.

 

[AX338]

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?

Yep, havn't used a headphone jack for 5 years....some great Bluetooth noise cancelling headphones out there.

 

[i0Nic]

If Apple does it this year, you can be that next year's Android flagships will also drop it.

 

[Mildredop]

I think if the removal of the headphone jack is for water resistance

My S7 is water resistant and has a headphone jack.

 

[Technarchy]

Depends on USB-C gaining more traction I think.

 

[0007776]

This change is exactly the same as ditching floppy or optical drives

No it is not. Those technologies were replaced with something that had major improvements. Replacing the headphone jack gives no improvement for the customer. That said I think we will see it happen in order for companies to make more money on selling expensive headphones.

 

[Savor]

A loud and clear external speaker is more important to me these days than a 3.5mm headphone jack. You will be surprised how weak external speakers are from many phones including flagships (ie Nexus series). Hard to believe many Filipino local branded phones blow away the loudness of global branded flagship phones including HTC's BoomSound.

If I want to listen to music with headphones, I have other phones which have it and they are smaller to make them easier to carry around or go biking. Or just use an older iPhone or iPod nano. Removing the physical home button on the iPhone 7 is a bigger deal to me than removing the headphone jack. That's a deal maker to me than breaker.

Hoping Apple continues copying Android hardware features including HTC BoomSound sans the speaker grills ala Xperia Z2. They own Beats now, so might as well have dual frontal stereo speakers instead of the foolish way other Android OEMs position it which is usually on the back with the highest volume level of a mouse.

I prefer using my Moto E2 to watch videos because even though it isn't quite as loud as my LG and Lumia and sounds distorted at highest levels, the sounds from the upper front speaker goes my direction. My palm isn't covering the back while I hold it or isn't getting muffled while laying it on my bed. Front speakers, please?

Emulate this next, Apple.

 

[co.ag.2005]

I still don't understand removing it but looking at pictures of the audio jack in an iPhone 6 from iFixit, that "module" (is that the right word?) does take up quite a bit of horizontal space (not depth). I hope they aren't doing this to make the phone thinner but maybe removing it to move around components inside and make the battery bigger? Not sure. As others have said, it's probably just to get more money from MFI licensing... I don't know... trying to remain positive...

attached pic from step 22 HERE

 

[Hastings101]

Until the technology has stabilized I will never buy a phone or computer that doesn't have a headphone jack. I find bluetooth, and almost anything wireless in general, just annoying to use. Takes forever to sync, connection can randomly disappear, sometimes devices aren't compatible; just too much effort compared to slide this metal/plastic thing into a hole and it magically works. All without carrying ten adapters with you.

 

[frankgrimes]

I will never buy a device without a headphone jack sure I love Bluetooth and it has come a long way but if I'm sitting in front of my pc I prefer cable same when I'm lying in bed.

But most if not all headphones these days still have the option to use them via BT or cable...only Sony removed that feature with the MDR ZDN770bn such a name

 

[Shanghaichica]

Obviously that is the way things are going in the future but for now I'd like to keep hold of my headphone jack. So I'll pass on the iPhone 7/6SE this year and stick with my 6S plus and S7 edge.

 

[5105973]

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.

I've been starting to think it's suddenly "a thing" because they've stalled out on things to do. The really exciting tech and bold new design language they are working on behind the scenes apparently isn't ready for prime time yet. By "they" I mean all of these manufacturers. I'm excited about Note 7 but that's only because I've never owned an Android phone with a pen before. Longtime Samsung users are declaring it a snooze, too. Samsung's foldable display won't be ready for another year, at least.

Apple is bringing nothing new and exciting to the table this year if the leaks are anything to go by. That's not to say camera and processor upgrades aren't welcome. The dual camera is very intriguing but they're limiting that to just one out of two or possibly three models. So take off the headphone jack and declare yourself a bold industry leader taking smartphone design in a new direction. Pfft.

I think it's annoying because it's not being done to advance a new design that requires the jack to be gone. It's the same damn chassis as we've been using the past couple of years, but now minus a feature many people still use. If you don't like it, use a dongle they say. Pfft.

I'm keeping my SE. Probably keeping my 6S Plus and getting a Note 7. All three will have headphone jacks because there's no reason not to.

The new Moto phones I will give a pass to because they're experimenting with this modular chassis concept. I know they didn't invent it but they're poised to make a go of it. I'm not familiar with the other phones listed, so can't comment on them yet.

As for Apple and Samsung, they can take them off and I won't be mad about it when they get back to me with exciting fabulous designs that would be ruined either aesthetically or functionally by having a little headphone jack carved into them. /full cynical grumpy mode

 

[Gav2k]

Apple is doing everyone a favour

 

[5105973]

Apple is doing everyone a favour

Lol, I suppose they think they're trying to ease us into the idea. But they're doing themselves no favors doing this with a release that's so plain looking and not particularly exciting.

 

[macrem]

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..

Cost is certainly a factor, so is space. It's not just the jack, with the 3.5mm jack the smartphone must have its own DAC hardware. With Lightning headphones, this will be part of the headphones. In addition to a true digital sound experience it will allow headphone manufacturers to choose quality components that go with the headphones. High end headphones will have better components than found in any smartphones. Sounds like a good thing for audiophiles.

 

[Michael Goff]

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..

I don't see this as a cash play because Apple is a company that wants to push everyone to wireless as much as possible. No Ethernet ports on Macs, fewest ports possible on the new MacBook, and we will likely hear about how great Bluetooth audio is whenever they get rid of the jack. This isn't a huge change from their core idea of wireless as much as humanly possible.

 

[Mildredop]

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

Unless the Moto Z doesn't sell well. I had a Moto X and have now switched to Samsung.
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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.

Didn't the first iPhone also have a different headphone socket? From memory, normal headphones wouldn't fit into it because it was set too deep into the casing.

The iPhone 3G rectified that.

 

[gotluck]

Cost is certainly a factor, so is space. It's not just the jack, with the 3.5mm jack the smartphone must have its own DAC hardware. With Lightning headphones, this will be part of the headphones. In addition to a true digital sound experience it will allow headphone manufacturers to choose quality components that go with the headphones. High end headphones will have better components than found in any smartphones. Sounds like a good thing for audiophiles.

the phone will continue to require a dac in order to be used as a phone though

I would also wager the 6s dac will be better than most upcoming headphone dac's aside from the high end. most people are not audiophiles (I am not) and will probably end up having digital headphones with lower quality dacs than the 6s does right now. I'm pessimistic about the whole thing really. People that spend hundreds on headphones will probably have a better experience in the end, but thats not for me.

what annoys me most is nothing about this is new, digital audio out is not a new feature and has been available via lightning. It never caught on aside from docking stations and now apple is forcing it.
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I don't see this as a cash play because Apple is a company that wants to push everyone to wireless as much as possible. No Ethernet ports on Macs, fewest ports possible on the new MacBook, and we will likely hear about how great Bluetooth audio is whenever they get rid of the jack. This isn't a huge change from their core idea of wireless as much as humanly possible.

they do love pushing wireless indeed

 

[frankgrimes]

Well the Moto Z is also the first phone from Motorola under the new Lenovo banner. I know I'm in the minority but I really don't like that phone, the modularity part is great but it doesn't have a notification LED nor a headphone jack, SD card slot nor a headphone jack because Lenovo wants to sell better audio via their modules.

I've seen some options and so far none of them has really shown me why a headphone jack needs to be removed.

The reason digital audio never caught on is simple for non audiophiles the benefits are minimal at best, there isn't a huge supply to choose from and most digital headphones are priced in the hundreds of dollars...plus I think it's stupid to have one lightning slot just because you can.

The Moto Z already gave a poor excuse (all in the name of thinner..) and yet the great JBL external module is bulky and of course expensive for what it offers.

but yeah I think Apple and Microsoft are trying way too hard to push wireless and the cloud. I mean if you want HDMI support buying the extra dock for the surface pro is a must.

 

[Three141]

Yeah but probably not immediately, in 3 years time onwards I could see it being the norm and it depends on how well/bad the new iPhone sells.