It's been a year since Apple famously removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7985 Archivescalled it "courage."
The headphone jack, Apple reasoned, was obsolete and unnecessary. Wireless was the way to go, and the iPhone's Lightning port was better for audio anyway. Soon, the company implied, you'll forget that the 3.5mm jack had ever existed.
Never mind the fact that the vast majority of headphones on the market came with a 3.5mm plug. Never mind the fact that people hated dongles. Never mind that wired sounded better than wireless. Never mind the fact that the Lightning port didn't exist on any other gadget outside of Apple's iDevices.
A year later, absolutely nothing has changed.
SEE ALSO: We got our hands on the iPhone 8 - here's everything you need to knowThere were some minor steps forward. With its W1 wireless chip, Apple has made progress by making it easier to wirelessly pair your headphones with an iPhone. And since the iPhone 7 came out, wireless headphones became far more common in stores.
But wired still sounds better than wireless. Wireless can still be a hassle, especially if you juggle connections between several gadgets. Wired headphones never run out of battery. I use headphones a lot, and frankly, I find the wired connection more practical. Well, except when I need a dongle. Those are still annoying, and incredibly easy to lose.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
And when it comes to wired connections, Apple's vision of the future hasn't happened. Headphones still come with the good, old 3.5mm jack.
I received dozens of pitches for headphones during the last year, and all of them were for headphones with a 3.5mm cable. True Lightning headphones, which take advantage of the digital connection, were few and far between. Same goes for USB-C.
If there were one unified standard, perhaps headphone makers would be less reluctant to get rid of the 3.5mm connector. But since Apple is pushing Lightning on the iPhone and iPad, and most Android phones come with a USB-C connector, the easiest thing for headphone manufacturers to do is to provide a cable with the 3.5mm jack.
This is despite the fact that far fewer smartphones support that standard these days. We've just been shown three new 3.5mm jack-less iPhones, and rumors say that two of the most anticipated Android phones of the year, Google's Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, won't have the classic headphone jack, either. Many other Android phones, like the Mi Mix 2 or the HTC U11, have gone the same route.
But it still doesn't make sense.
If you don't believe me that the 3.5mm headphone jack is still the best headphone jack, just ask Apple.
I get the phone manufacturers' desire to simplify the design of their smartphones and make them easier to waterproof. But phones can be waterproofed even if they have a 3.5mm jack -- check Samsung's Galaxy S8 and Note 8, for example. And they really don't need to be thinner than they are now.
If you don't believe that the 3.5mm headphone jack is still the best headphone jack, just ask Apple. Even Apple's own Beats Studio3 headphones, the latest and greatest from the brand, come with a 3.5mm cable. Yes, they're primarily wireless, but if the battery runs out, or you simply want a wired connection, guess what: You'll need a dongle to connect them to an iPhone 7 or 8. And a different dongle to connect them to a Pixel 2.
Thanks for the "courage," Apple, but this isn't working. And I really, really wish smartphone makers would wise up and bring back the headphone jack.
Topics iPhone
DDR4 Memory at 4000 MT/s, Does It Make a Difference?
On Augusto Monterroso’s The Gold Seekers by Matt Broaddus
Mallarmé’s Poetry of the Void by Quentin Meillassoux
The Cookbook Review by The Paris Review
Best earbuds deal: Save 20% on Soundcore Sport X20 by Anker
The Prom of the Colorado River by Meg Bernhard
How Do You Write an Opera Based on Moby
William and Henry James by Peter Brooks
Today's Hurdle hints and answers for May 12, 2025
The Hobo Handbook by Jeremiah David
The Mismeasure of Media
Recurring Screens by Nora Claire Miller
Cruising at the LA Fitness by Danez Smith
The Marriage Dividend by Laurie Stone
Wombat butt biting sex habits could be helpful for its survival
A Pretty Girl, a Novel with Voices, and Ring
Prof. Dr. A. I. in Conversation with Tadeusz Dąbrowski by Piotr Czerski
Two New Movies by The Paris Review
Productivity Boost: Enable 'Night Mode' on All Your Devices
Making of a Poem: Nora Fulton on “La Comédie
Huawei P10 impressions: Sticking to the basics with new flagshipsThe one thing that says everything about Bill Paxton's badass careerScience is already political. Get over it and start marching.Hands on with TCT's QWERTYLaverne Cox beautifully takes a transphobic activist to task on live TVNicki Minaj and Remy Ma are beefing right now and dear god nobody was ready for all the shadeMay we all love something as much as the internet loves Justin Trudeau's buttDonald Trump has spent a lot of time whining about the Oscars on TwitterHas Ed Sheeran betrayed Taylor Swift and her squad?Warren Buffett basically just subtweeted President Donald Trump, shade, shade, shadeThe best, most savage punchlines from Nick Kroll & John Mulaney Indie Spirit Awards hosting gigLaverne Cox beautifully takes a transphobic activist to task on live TVMike Pence's proGoogle Assistant is finally coming to a lot more Android devices'Arrival' screenwriter's next act after Oscar nomination? A comic bookBeyoncé voices her support for trans youth after Trump's bathroom decisionThe Tesla Model 3 gets real in JulyBeyoncé voices her support for trans youth after Trump's bathroom decisionLana Del Ray calls upon fellow witches to cast spell on Donald TrumpBeyoncé voices her support for trans youth after Trump's bathroom decision NYT Connections hints and answers for April 24: Tips to solve 'Connections' #683. NYT Connections hints and answers for April 23: Tips to solve 'Connections' #682. Best Lego Star Wars deal: Save $14.99 on the Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Mos Espa Podrace Diorama NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for April 24: Tips to solve Connections #213 GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 preorders: Reserve your console at GameStop to get the best trade Best hair tool deal: Get a certified renewed Shark FlexStyle for $199.99 No, those Chinese factory TikToks won't help you bypass Trump's tariffs Report: Intel to cut 20 percent of its workforce [April 2025] Best earbuds deal: Save $30.95 on the Beats Fit Pro Best earbuds deal: Save $30 on Bose QuietComfort Switch 2 fans crash GameStop, Target, and Walmart [April 2025] NYT mini crossword answers for April 25, 2025 AI was used to write the California bar exam. The law community is outraged. NFL Draft 2025: Mock simulator, expert opinions, and who to follow GameStop has the best Nintendo Switch trade Apple plans to produce all U.S. Best Sony Bravia TV deal: Save $1,000 on the 77 Best Xbox storage deal: Save 22% on the WD Character AI reveals AvatarFX, a new AI video generator NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24
2.3526s , 8225.7734375 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【1985 Archives】,Wisdom Convergence Information Network