Skip to main content

Fine, let 2021 be the year the headphone jack dies on phones

Mobile Phone and headphones
Emilija Manevska/Getty Images

I hate to break it to you, but the headphone jack is going away. On phones, at least. A trend that started in 2018 picked up steam in 2019 and has nearly come to a close this year.

People who have been using high-end phones for the past couple of years are wondering what I’m talking about. They came to terms with this long ago. Apple removed the headphone jack on the iPhone 8, and even Samsung removed it starting with the Galaxy Note 10. Companies making phones that cost more than $500 have realized they can remove a headphone jack and nobody will complain enough to not buy the phone. Now, heading into 2021, that trend is poised to head downmarket, too.

Recommended Videos

I’m fine saying goodbye to the headphone jack on phones entirely.

I actually can’t remember the last time I plugged an audio cable into one of my phones. Be it a pair of headphones, a speaker, or a car audio system. And not because my phones just … don’t have the port. I have adapters I can use, I just don’t bother — everything is Bluetooth now.

I actually can’t remember the last time I plugged an audio cable into a phone.

A tech we love to hate

Bluetooth is the technology we all love to hate. It can be randomly buggy, with frustrating disconnections and cutting out. Switching devices can also be a pain, and audiophiles will always remind us that the quality isn’t nearly as good as a wired connection. But, we all use it anyway. People are clearly willing to deal with these pain points — just look at the incredible explosion of popularity of true wireless earbuds. All of the hottest audio products in the consumer space are Bluetooth, not wired.

People obviously complained about the loss of the headphone jack at first, but they don’t seem to care anymore — at least, not in large numbers. Bluetooth audio products are numerous, covering an incredible range of uses, styles, qualities, and prices. That wasn’t the case in 2017 (Apple definitely jumped the gun there), but it sure is now. Even people who have a less expensive phone that retains the headphone jack aren’t using it as much — they’re just pairing up to an inexpensive pair of Bluetooth headphones, because they’re actually quite good for the money nowadays and it turns out being wireless has its advantages.

Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
Jaron Schneider / Digital Trends

A few companies have dipped their toe into offering headphones with a direct USB-C or Lightning connector, but I don’t see this as being particularly necessary to this transition. It’s going to take a very long time for the 3.5 mm headphone plug to disappear across the technology industry (it’s likely here to stay on computers, at least), so even if phones eliminate the port, there will still be considerable demand for standard wired headphones.

This transition is going just fine, and we’re further along than you’d think.

Use an adapter

In the meantime, there’s always an adapter! Let’s remember, the death of the headphone jack does not mean the death of wired audio. It’s dead simple to get a USB-C adapter or Lightning adapter to plug in your wired headphones. No batteries required, and it’s cheap. It also provides an interesting opportunity for audiophiles, because you can now choose your DAC (digital-to-analog converter), rather than be stuck with the likely low-quality DAC in the phone.

If there’s anything that the transition of computers, phones, and tablets from USB-A to USB-C has shown us, it’s that people have a high tolerance for short-term inconvenience while a new standard is rolling out. The headphone transition with phones is going much smoother, and we’re much further along. It looks like 2021 is the year where I stop caring about that little 3.5 mm plug.

Andrew Martonik
Andrew Martonik is the Editor in Chief at Digital Trends, leading a diverse team of authoritative tech journalists.
How I fell in love with the massive Galaxy Watch Ultra
A person wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

I put the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra back on when I started reviewing the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and it has mostly stayed on my wrist since then. I did so as a way to test Galaxy AI’s Now Brief feature, but have come out the other side head-over-heels in love with Samsung’s biggest, maddest smartwatch. Here’s what happened.
I missed the other Ultra

Upon accepting my newfound love of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I tried to understand where my infatuation came from, and remembered a pivotal moment. When I bought my titanium Apple Watch Series 10, I used the original Apple Watch Ultra as a trade-in to offset the eye-watering cost. I knew I’d miss the Apple Watch Ultra when I traded it in, but the brilliant Apple Watch Series 10 made me forget any angst quite quickly.

Read more
The Vivo X200 Ultra could launch with a much more powerful camera sensor
Man holding Vivo X200 Pro with Zeiss lenses up to his face.

When Vivo launched the x200 lineup last year, it teased an Ultra model but said we wouldn't see it until 2025. While we're still not clear on a release date, we've learned a few details about the upcoming flagship's camera setup that have us excited. A tipster leaked the information on Weibo and revealed several key details about what to expect from this handset.

The Vivo X200 Ultra is said to have a three-camera setup that includes a 50MP main camera, a 200MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultrawide camera. If that sounds a little familiar, it's because the Vivo X200 Pro has the same main and telephoto units. What sets the X200 Ultra apart is the sensor for its ultrawide. A 1/2.76-inch sensor will allow much more light to enter, making it ideal for taking higher-resolution shots even in dim conditions.

Read more
Want a tablet for under $100? Check out this Lenovo deal
The Lenovo Tab M9 tablet on a white background.

Not every tablet needs to be packed with features. Sometimes, the essentials are all it takes, which makes tablets like the Lenovo Tab M9 all the more appealing. As a matter of fact, this Lenovo product is part of an exclusive doorbuster sale:

Right now, when you order the Lenovo Tab M9 (4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage) through the manufacturer, you’ll only pay $94. The full MSRP on this model is $150. It’s one of the best tablet deals we’ve seen all week, so don’t miss out!

Read more