Annals of cancellation: the beloved aux jack
Yes yes they can take that away from me:
My quest for a new cellphone accelerated the other day for various connectivity reasons too boring to explain. I long ago decided I want my next cellphone to be another Samsung Galaxy. I’ve had that type of phone for ages and been satisfied with it. Plus, why have to learn a whole different habit system for the phone’s operation?
And then I discovered to my dismay that a recent trend in cell phones as a whole – starting with the nefarious Apple, leader with other computer “improvements” I detest, such as the flat chiclet keyboard – is to eliminate the handy auxiliary phone jack. It gives them more room in the phones to have longer-lasting batteries, they say. But it also is a way to push more and more bluetooth items, which become obligatory.
Interestingly, the low-end models – at least with Samsung – still have the jacks. For now, anyway, although haughty Apple has eliminated them entirely. The good news is that the low-end models such as the A13 and A23, are – well, low-end, which means less expensive. But that means that often some of the features I’d like (or at least think I’d like), such as a more spiffy camera, are missing.
So it really comes down to this: how badly do I want that auxiliary jack? Is it just my stubborn reluctance to change that’s operating here? As the young (looked about twelve to me) guy working at Best Buy asked me: “Do you have a bluetooth?” My answer is: tons of them. I use them quite often, because my arm problem makes it hard for me to hold the phone for calls of more than a few minutes. I’m an early bluetooth adopter, and have many different in-ear kinds and also an over-the-ear headset type. I actually like over-the-ear types, but have found that my trusty wired headet is very useful at times, too: very comfortable, inexpensive, and with good sound fidelity for music. Why should I have to surrender it?
“Ah,” but you say, “you don’t have to surrender it. They have these little adapter doohickeys that work just fine.” And yes, they do have them. But if you want to listen with your headset while charging your phone – which I find convenient at times – then you have to get a gadget that also has a charging port as well as the aux jack. No problem; they sell them. Except that consumers often report that using them to listen and charge degrades the signal and causes static. With a simple and elegant aux port, that has never happened to me.
So I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time researching and mulling over this decision. But before I bite the bullet and spring for an A23, I’m curious to get some of your opinions. Not that I’ll do what you say, of course.
I also had to recently replace my cell phone and stayed with Samsung. I was furious when I realized it didn’t have an aux jack which I use all the time to listen to audiobooks at the gym and out walking. Also peeved that the connector shape has also changed so all my charging cords and plugs are useless. I had to ask my tech-y son-in-law for bluetooth earbuds for Xmas and of course when we tried to connect them to my phone and laptop they didn’t work. Can’t even get them to charge (with a really stupid 4 inch cord). Yes planned obsolescence is a greedy conspiracy to require all consumers to buy all new products every couple of years
Have you considered getting a model that supports wireless charging? I have a Galaxy Note 9 that has wireless charging which still has both a headphone jack as well as mini USB port. Of course, Samsung has discontinued the Note line which annoys me. But I believe their “S” series supports wireless charging and still has a mini USB that you could plug one of your “doohickeys” into so you can listen while charging.
I’ve got yer headphone jack right here, Neo.
https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/moto-g-stylus-5g
Headphone jack: Check
5G: Check
High-end phone with mid-range price: Check
Micro-SD card for extra storage: Check
Pretty good camera: Check. It’s not a super-camera, but it’s way more than I need.
When something new comes along that breaks the way I used to do things, I try to figure out how much easier my life would be if I did it the new way, and if the answer is none much easier, then I just give up whatever it is.
Often times trying to keep something going that is on its way out is a worst-of-both worlds solution.
I hate Bluetooth. Invariably, the battery dies when I want/need it. They fall out of an ear. I can go on. I LIKE non-battery peripheral crap for both my phone and my computer. Apple is driving me nuts. I have a Motorola phone. For awhile they did have ONE jack, for USB, and I had to get an adapter for my headphones.
I made the switch from a dumb flip phone to a Galaxy A53 a couple months ago. The only connector is a USB-C one. Get used to that as I think it is a quick universal standard.
A couple points: It charges very fast if you have a high current/power charger. I also use the battery longevity setting which limits the max charge a little.
2) Headphone noise when simultsneously charging will be very dependent on the charger. Try different ones. You could try slipping a ferrite core over the charging cable. Some very old chargers come those already attached to the cable.
I have a really cheap pair of BT earbuds that work surprisingly well, though not great for music. I was thinking of upgrading them but the options are endless. I spent hours trying to find a good music player before finding PowerAmp which is great. It has an TC/equalizer that makes the cheap buds sound OK.
I firmly believe that new models of stuff, including software, come from the tiny minds of 2 yr olds who think they know best about everything. Like businesses assuming that everyone has a smartphone that does all sorts of stuff. The only saving grace is that sometime they too will be Hoisted by their own Petard.
Just put one of these on the end of your wired headsets. Mostly kidding, but it does solve the problem.
I happen to like Samsung Galaxy as well and just now noticed that my S21 Ultra doesn’t have the jack. I never quite noticed while having a similar concern. I’ve certainly moved on. My current listening device of choice are Shokz, because they are lightweight, comfortable, and portable. I will admit that I wished they still made wired Shokz, because I have a VR headset that is audio jack only.
I certainly agree with the non-Apple choice. If you are not already Apple, don’t do it. Apple stuff is good, and works well, but there is a real premium in price and Apple makes it tough to do simple maintenance tasks, like replacing the phone’s battery.
I’ve had a Moto G6 for years and it works well. Has an aux cable, but mine stopped working about a year ago. I didn’t bother to get it repaired since I have a decent pair of bluetooth headphones I like, but there are times I miss it, but, surprisingly, less than I would have guessed.
The folks I know who have Samsung Galaxy’s like them. They appear to be very good phones, but I like the Motos that offer similar features at a lower price point, but I also don’t mind having to do some DIY stuff, or extra work to have a more moderately priced phone.
Another option inspired by TommyJay’s comment. It would work for Lee Also. On the charging bit, I wirelessly charge most of the time.
This may be a bit unnecessary, especially when these are available, which you already mentioned.
If they’re going to do away with the aux jack, give us a USB-C out for an external DAC.
I’ve had a Moto G6 for years and it works well.
Rufus:
That’s me! I’ve never seen that point on spending big bucks for a cellphone.
I have had aux jacks and usb jacks go bad after much use. Bluetooth has gotten better — it was infuriatingly hit-or-miss for the first few decades.
I take neo’s point on wishing for an excellent phone-camera though. Apple’s phones are remarkable in that regard.
Some of the desire to drop the aux connector is the Apple drive for minimalism, which goes back to Steve Jobs.
He was always asking how to simplify the interfaces, reduce the number of connectors and make the device as thin and chic as possible.
One can never be too thin, n’est-ce pas?
To everyone:
If I accepted the “doohickey” solution I could get virtually any phone and use a wired headset. But I often use my wired headphones when I am charging my cellphone at the same time I’m listening to music, and I don’t want any degrading of the sound quality through the “doohickey.” I’ve read user reviews for about 10 of those adapters and they all had people complaining that using it while charging the phone was a problem.
I don’t do anything fancy with my phone like gaming, so I don’t really need a high end phone in that sense. The most technologically demanding thing I do with my phone is take photos, and even then I’m usually taking them outside in good light and don’t need the world’s most advanced camera.
It’s true that if I got a high end phone with wireless charging I could use the more simple adapter gizmo for a wired headset and not worry about the charging port. But then I’d have to spend a lot more money for the phone itself, get an adapter for the wired headset, plus a wireless charger, plus a wireless charger for the car. Since the reviews of the Samsung A23 make it sound pretty darn good for the price, I wonder why I would need all that upgrade when it’s already got an aux port. Here’s a typical review of the A23, and here’s another.
One thing I don’t like is that the phone is quite big, and I have very small hands. But all phones except iPhones have gotten big. Some phones are even bigger than the A23, and I’ve ruled those out.
What I’m curious about is whether any people here have an A23 and what they think of it. Or whether any people here have a phone without the aux jack and use the adapter for the wired headset while charging, and whether they’re experienced any problem with the quality of sound while listening to music.
huxley:
I wouldn’t really care what Apple did if the other companies didn’t have a tendency to follow their lead.
I had an Apple laptop computer for about 4 years and hated it the whole time. Never again.
Well my Galaxy mini was declared obsolete by the phone company about a year ago, so I had no choice. I liked it because it could accommodate 2 SIM cards, which was handy for my overseas work: One for use here in the US, another for use in my work country, and I could keep all the contacts and so on, on one phone and just switch between SIMs as I traveled. Also: It was small and fit in my pocket.
Now I’ve gotten a Galaxy S20 FE. I fell like I’m hauling around a piece of lumber, the dang thing is too big! But the camera is great and of course, being big, the interface is easier to use.
By all means I recommend getting an ‘unlocked’ phone, whatever option you choose. You can normally get them online with little problem, and this gives you options with providers. Finally: There are some smaller companies that are making ‘dumb’ phones now, phones that are capable of calls, texts, and even pictures, but little else. There apparently is a real niche for these as people find that lugging around a brick-sized phone tiresome, and being too connected is a downside – preferring instead to revert to the old tried-and-true, simple flip phone.
Good luck! I hated having to phone shop.
neo:
Tell me about it!
I was a stone Apple guy from the Apple II through the Mac until 1994, when for professional reasons I had to switch to Windows.
Later I tried going back, but the Mac had become too expensive and weird for my purposes. Then there was the Apple policy of treating outside developers like lice. (I exaggerate.)
I like my Google Pixel 4a. The currently available equivalent is the Pixel 6a for $350. Pluses: Camera that performs above its price range, Android without any cell phone carrier apps that can’t be deleted, 6″ screen is big but not too big. My 4a has a headphone jack but the newer ones don’t. If you have a wired headset you like, you can get an adapter for it that plugs into the USB-C on the phone (mixed reviews on Amazon).
Matthew M:
Thanks, but I’m happy with Samsung and if I decided to forego the aux jack I’d just simplify my life and buy a higher-end Samsung Galaxy that has more bells and whistles but no jack. I just find the jack very very hard to give up, at least prospectively.
By far the most tempting thing about the phone you mention is the small size, though.
Aggie:
I am planning to get an unlocked phone. I guess I didn’t mention that, but I’m not signing any contracts.
I can’t get one of those minimalist phones, either. I don’t use my phone for really sophisticated things like gaming, but I do a lot of reading on it and listening to music and videos (podcasts, etc.).
The result of reducing interfaces to the minimum is the need for dongles. I have a friend with an very light Apple laptop, but he complains that the lightness of the computer is more than made up for by the number and complexity of dongles he has to carry to connect to various devices to make presentations, etc.
We’re all Apple all the time here, and as soon as they adopt USB-C for the iPhone, I’m there. Bluetooth earbuds are fine as far as they go, but they’re useless for background noise while sleeping (l have prodigious snoring sounds to drown out). Yes, I have to have a doohickey (splitter) to connect both charging cable and 3.5mm connector for the earbuds to the phone. Even Apple isn’t stupid enough to eliminate an opening for wired charging. I hope.
I like the form factor of my Galaxy A53 which is the same as the A23 I believe. It’s not small nor super light weight, but it is a little lighter than many others. Works well too.
There is a difference between splitter dongles. There are the ones that have three USB connectors for use with a USB headset, then there are the ones that have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The former will have a DAC chip contained in the headset whereas the latter will have a DAC chip inside the dongle. A USB headset could possibly solve the problems without the added issues of a Bluetooth option.
I don’t have any direct experience with the issues in the above paragraph, but sound quality and particularly noise issues will vary. A quick scan of the Amazon user rating comments indicated that someone had trouble with noise issues in a car. A running car engine with spark plugs is a notorious problem regarding electrical noise.
I’ve never used my phone as an ipod, so never saw the point at having a headphone output.
And now with blutooth earpods, there’s really no need for a headphone output at all any longer, just a charging port is needed (doubling as a data port if you need to sync with your computer for whatever reason).
MY own biggest issue with the latest gen of phones is the idiot GLASS backing, along with the “rounded” edges…
Previous models of my own phone-of-preference — LGs (alas, the current model will not be upgrading, as LG is getting out of making phones 🙁 …so tough luck Frank Buck) the G3 had a plastic case, and the G5 had a magnesium case. I had both for more than 3y, each, and the only issues they ever had was a teeeeensy little crack in the upper-right corner somewhere around the 2y mark. One very small issue @5y in 6y of phones with no particular case protection says how careful I am with my handling of phones.
The G7 that I replaced that G5 with had the glass back and the rounded glass corners. Within 3 months it had not less than two significant cracks in it, one of which has spiderwebbed across the otherwise very good camera, making its images into a fuzzy mess. The other one goes, almost invisibly, across the screen. Since then there have been not less than two more significant whacks on it that have added to the spiderwebbing.
“Gorilla” Glass or whatever, it’s CRAP.
“Oooooh, but it makes the phones look sooo sleeeeeek”?
EPH THAT CRAP. HOW “sleeeek” does it look when you MUST wrap the bastard PoS into a fugly damned CASE to stop it from getting destroyed even by careful handling?
Stupid, Moronic Assholes. >:-/
TBH, I’m looking into a “ruggedized” phone to take its place, since there will be no G8 or G9 to consider.
}}} Also peeved that the connector shape has also changed so all my charging cords and plugs are useless.
That actually happened at least 4y ago, the switch from USB-B to USB-C. It is an improvement, but yes, it can be a nuisance. There are adaptrrs for these, so you can carry one around and use it if you only have access to the B-type cables. I can recommend an inexpensive useful little utility set with most adapters of the type you’ll need among the USB sets.
}}} Have you considered getting a model that supports wireless charging?
The term here is “Qi Charging”.
}}} Micro-SD card for extra storage: Check
That, more than anything, is the thing I insist on in my phones — and it was one of the best aspects of LG phones, because they have always (for >8y) taken microSD cards up to 2 TERAbytes in size. I think those are only just now coming available, and more than likely, still a scammer. The “reliable” memory companies (Sandisk, Samsung, PNY, et al) are still mostly offering 1tb ?SD cards, for 100-200 bucks.
I stopped even considering Samsung phones when they arbitrarily limited them to some weird formfactor ?SD of like 212gb.
It is very very convenient to have a lot of ripped audio and video available on the device, because you never know when you’re going to enter a dead zone and forget streaming when that happens. It’s also been nice to get on a plane and watch whatever movie or TV show I want, and not have to pay for permission to watch whatever they want to offer.
}}} I hate Bluetooth. Invariably, the battery dies when I want/need it. They fall out of an ear. I can go on.
Honestly, I’ve never had any issue with Bluetooth The solution to both your issues is to use an over-the-head design, rather than earbuds. They generally have much more battery life (ca. 8-10h of constant usage) and don’t “fall off” or “fall out” at all. I do have a set of earbuds, but only for “controlled” situations, where I am relatively inactive and physically stable.
I will state that I have had a pair of these for 4 years, and never had any complaints about them, and, @US$34, they are not too expensive.
As to sound quality, well, I don’t listen to orchestral music, more various forms of Rock, Jazz, and Blues. And they seem good enough to me for that purpose. They are also nominally noise cancelling, which they do ok, given that they are 34 bucks.
Also, @ 34 bucks, if you ARE having issues with battery life, you can buy an extra pair and have one charging while you use the other. They will be fully charged inside of 3h, probably 1 or 2 if using a fast charger, well beyond the power on steady usage of the other pair.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KXLP9R6
starting with the nefarious Apple, leader with other computer “improvements”
Yup, there should only be one kind of cell phone with ports required by law which can never be experimented upon, changed, or altered. Doesn’t matter if it comes about by “competition,” faddishness, or parliaments.
And don’t get me started on soda, cereal*, antiperspirant, cosmetics…
* No one needs more than Quisp, Count Chocula, and Grape Nuts.
I have Motorola One 5G Ace. I am satisfied with it.
A bluetooth earbud option with a ton of battery life, they claim.
JBL Tune 230NC TWS
Up to 40 hours of battery life: Never miss a beat with 40 (10 plus 30) hours of battery life or 8 hours, plus 24 hours in the case when noise cancelling is engaged. Need a boost. Speed Charge for just ten minutes to get 2 hours of playtime.
They were $50 before Christmas, but $100 now.
My iPhone Bluetooths to my hearing aids, otherwise I would be unable to use a cellphone at all. Downside is my phone rings in my ears and sometimes I can’t tell where it is.
OBloody:
The Samsung Galaxy A23 and A53 and some others in that mid-range take SD cards up to 1TB.
Like you, I prefer over-the-ear bluetooth headphones to earbud ones. I find earbuds very uncomfortable and they don’t fit my small ears well at all. My wired headset is also over-the-ear.